
I 



Ml: 



ED BY 
LIFE AND LETTERS 

Washington, c. . » 
-1S31 - 




LEONID AS L. HAMLUE, DJ), 

LATJS OXE OF THE BISHOPS OF THE SCETHODIST EPISCOPAL CHCBCH. 



By WALTER C. PALaLER, M.D. 



"WITH OfTBODUCTOKY LETTERS 



BY BISHOPS MORRIS. JANES, AND THOMSON. 



Know ye not that there is a prince and a ^reat man fallen." 



3TetD tjork: 

PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 

200 MULBEEEY-5TEEET. 

1866. 



CARLTON* dc PORTER, 
n ike Oak's OSes tf Ik Mrhiii Gemrt of the Faked Skates far u*e 



-Hiage anc Mrs. !sa»c R. H*t 



PREFACE. 



It will interest the many ardent admirers of the be- 
loved subject of this memoir, to observe that he has 
been mainly his own biographer. In preparing the 
work for the press a sufficient amount of material has 
passed under revision to form another volume, which 
may hereafter be published, bearing the title, u Re- 
mains of Bishop H aniline, comprising Sermons, Ad- 
dresses," etc. 

Our aim in this volume is to present, for the glory 
of the Head of the Church, a life-picture of one who, 
having cast anchor within the vail, dwelt in the inner 
sanctuary of the divine presence. If the image of the 
heavenly was stamped upon the outer man to a degree 
not often witnessed in fallen humanity, it was because 
he was to an unusual degree a subject of the blessed 
Holy Spirit's in workings. Of the manner of these 
in workings we have permitted him to speak for him- 
self, in his familiar letters and diary, which were an 
ever faithful transcript of his deeply devoted, affec- 
tionate heart. Some may imagine that we have al- 
lowed too much minuteness of detail. Our apology 
is that we - the msn. and feel that, if we would 



4 PREFACE. 

have others dwell on the heaTen-illumined picture 
which his precious life presents, the minutiae, as given 
in his diary and letters, are needful to make up the 
tout ensemble of one whom our affectionate and relig- 
ious preferences have ever regarded as a man of extra- 
ordinary piety and power. 

The Author, 

New York, April 23, 1866. 



AN AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE 



To the Memory of Leonid as L. Hamline, D.D., late one of the Bishops 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States, hy one of 
his Colleagues in the Episcopacy, and one of his Associates in the 
Pastorate. 

The acquaintance of one of us with the late Bishop Hamline 
extends back to the year 1834, when he was stationed with the 
bishop in the city of Cincinnati. 

It is not ours to trace the incidents of the good man's life, 
but simply to offer a tribute to his memory. 

When we first knew Bishop Hamline he was a gentleman, a 
scholar, a Christian, and a minister. His person was com- 
manding, his voice musical, his manners engaging. In the 
pulpit he was self-restrained, self-possessed, and grave ; in his 
attitudes, utterances, and tones, showing mingled humility and 
dignity. We never heard him while proclaiming God's word 
say an indiscreet or inappropriate thing. He seemed to feel 
that as God is in earnest, and Christ and apostles, it became 
him to be earnest too. He was rarely severe, though he was 
eminently capable of being so. Occasionally he indulged in 
invective and declamation, but it was with an evident hiding 
of power. " Thou baptized infidel," with which he introduced 
an awful denunciation of false doctrine, was the harshest expres- 
sion we ever heard him use. 

His style was faultless : but to say this was not enough, it 
was charming; it had clearness, energy, purity, and elegance. 
For choice diction and beautiful variety of sentences we have 
never met with his equal among his brethren. His sermons 
were finished from end to end. Examine exordium, argument- 
ation, refutation, or peroration separately, and you find each 
perfect. Combine them, and you have a connected, compact 
discourse, which it would be difficult for the critic to improve. 
It was not only his rhetoric that was faultless; his logic was 
carefully constructed, yet always sparingly, often brilliantly — 



6 



AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE. 



logic all ablaze. He rarely delivered a discourse which might 
not have been printed word for word as it fell from his lips, 
and safely submitted to the critical eye. He rarely if ever used 
in the pulpit a superfluous word or a bad sentence. With less 
brilliancy than Bascom, a less majestic sweep of thought than 
Olin, he had more compactness than either. If the first was like 
the flying artillery of Napoleon, the second like the steady line 
of Wellington, the last was like the close, strong, neat column 
of Fredeiick, marching with accumulating force upon the foe. 

Such sermons as his could not be purely extempore. While 
Bishop Hamline was on a circuit he probably never penned a 
discourse, nevertheless his efforts may have been precomposed — 
written on the brain; every sentence, ay, every interlineation, 
as distinct as if traced on the paper. When he was stationed 
he found the utility of writing sermons. Some of these he 
probably memorized, though he generally took the manuscript 
into the pulpit. He could write a full length sermon on a 
single sheet of letter paper by dividing each page into four 
columns by means of black lines and writing in a fine hand. 
His eye was so good, and his memory too, that he could deliver 
a sermon from such a sheet with much of the effect of extem- 
poraneous discourse, and perhaps the hearer supposed that the 
paper before the preacher contained but a few notes. But his 
most effective discourses were his earlier and extempore ones. 
His sermons, though elaborate, were popular — understood even 
by illiterate hearers; they were also evangelical, scriptural, 
varied. Some were doctrinal, some hortatory, some preceptive, 
some historical It is doubtful whether he succeeded best in 
delineation of character, the defense of truth, the application 
of the word to the troubled heart, or the searching of the sin- 
ner's conscience, so well did he succeed in all. Bascom ex- 
celled him in the first, Christie in the second, Summerfield in 
the third, and Bigelow in the last, but no one of them could do 
all as well as he. His sermons (to be published) will, we think, 
justify all this. In our judgment he erred, after he became a 
bishop, in supposing that he ought not to study the graces 
which marked his earlier productions. 

Mr. Hamline was as circumspect in private as in public. In 
conversation he never hesitated, halted, or corrected, but, delib- 
erating before he spoke, his words were choice, and they fell 



AFFECTIONATE TKIBUTE. 



7 



into perfect sentences. His manners were courteous and his 
spirit kind, and although he often unbent he never lost his 
dignity. We never heard him relate a silly anecdote, or use 
any sentence that might not have been repeated in presence of 
a lady. When compelled to speak on indelicate subjects it was 
in guarded and euphemistic phrase. 

At an early period of his ministry he was deprived of his 
wife. The calamity could not but affect, deeply and long, his 
sensitive nature. The departed mother left young children for 
whom the father had the most intense solicitude, and when he 
visited them his prayers were enough to melt the stoutest heart. 
Providence favored, and he drew a second prize in the lottery 
of marriage. After the shadow passed off and the sunshine came 
on again, he was the same sober-minded, considerate Christian 
at his happy fireside. 

In deliberative bodies he was unobtrusive ; he seldom took 
any part in Conference except to write and sustain a report. 
He did not seek pre-eminence, although it is very probable that 
he enjoyed it. He knew that the surest way to distinction in 
debate is to say nothing until a favorable opportunity occurs. 
Such a one occurred at the General Conference of 1844, in which 
his speech put him in the front rank of his brethren, and, to the 
surprise of the delegation to which he belonged, elevated him 
to the episcopacy. That speech was carefully prepared. At 
the close of one of the sessions of the body he invited a dele- 
gate to dine with him, and carefully examined with him the 
provisions of the Discipline in regard to the powers of the 
General Conference over the episcopacy, and went through his 
argument verbally. Subsequently he took the delegate referred 
to and two others aside and read to them a sketch of his 
speech, requesting their criticisms, more probably for the 
purpose of support than counsel. From this skeleton, when 
perfected, the speech was written. After it was perfectly com- 
mitted, the orator came forth, calm, self-possessed, uttering every 
sentence distinctly, planting every argument securely, carry- 
ing every position triumphantly ! It was like the storming of a 
battery by a forlorn hope. As the flag of the successful party 
was planted on the heights, every member of it felt not only 
relieved, but ready to shout. Bishop Hamline was well known 
to the Church before this both as a preacher and writer, for he 



8 



AFFECTIONATE TRIBUTE. 



had been, in association with Dr. Elliott, editor of the Western 
Christian Advocate, and subsequently sole editor of the Ladies' 
Kepository, a work in which his genius was fitted to shine. 

As a presiding and executive officer he was popular and suc- 
cessful ; but under the pressure of disease and infirmities, which, 
in his estimation, disqualified him for the arduous duties and 
heavy responsibilities of the episcopacy, he resigned that posi- 
tion in 1852. Having an ample fortune, he devoted his last 
years, as far as his health would allow, to literary and religious 
studies, and the interests of the Church. 

Although Bishop Hamline had a strong intellect, his imagin- 
ation was perhaps the predominating faculty. This accounts 
for that tendency to depression which marked his character 
even before he became a bishop, and was urged by those who 
knew him best as a reason against his election. This, however, 
should be said, that in all his nervous depression he maintained 
his hope of heaven and his faith in God unwaveringly. 

While editor of the Repository he sought for that blessing 
of perfect love which Wesley so clearly describes, and many of 
his early disciples, as well as himself, so beautifully illustrated. 
Happily the witnesses are not all dead ! May their numbers be 
multiplied until the Church is filled with living evangels! 
May the whole Church learn the secret of a life hid with Christ 
in God ! E. S. Janes, 
. E. Thomson. 



Dr. W. C. Palmer: Dear Brother, — I am pleased to learn 
that you are preparing for publication a memoir of our lamented 
friend and brother, the late Bishop Hamline. The tribute is just. 
u The righteous shall be held in everlasting remembrance." He 
was a man of mark among his brethren, not only for superior 
talent, but also for deep, consistent piety and usefulness. 

He devoted his time and talent, strength and substance, soul 
and body, life and reputation, wealth and influence to the cause 
of the glorious. Redeemer, in whose presence he now weal's the 
crown of life. Relieved from his sore and protracted afflictions, 
he awaits the arrival of his religious friends where pain and 
death can never come. May we follow him as he followed Christ! 

Springfield, Ohio. T. A. MORRIS, 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER L 

fflS EARLY DAYS. 

Early Days — Parentage — Designed for the Ministry — Studious 
Habits — Religious Interest — Singular Incident — Power in Debate — 
Universalist Minister — Infidel Silenced — His Marriage. . .Pages 15-20 

CHAPTER LL 

DOCTRINAL DIFFICULTIES — NEW BIRTH. 

Doctrinal Difficulties — Pious Friends — Subtle Reasoning — Game 
of Chess and the Methodist Minister — Visits a Camp-meeting — Sub- 
lime Spectacle — Altar Scene — Reads the Protective Statute from the 
Preachers' Stand — Conversation with the Presiding Elder — Unrest of 
Soul — Idol Taken Away — Distressing Convictions — Closet Worship 

— The Rainy Sabbath — Afraid of " the Power " — Conversion . . .21-52 

CHAPTER HI. 

HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 

Love-feast Testimony — Licensed to Exhort — Begins to Preach — 
Providential Escape — Joins the Conference — Letters to Mrs. H. — 
Glorious Meetings — Removes to Cincinnati — Mrs. H.'s Illness — She 
receives the Spirit of Adoption — Her Peaceful Death — Sympathy 
with the Bereaved — Early Characteristics as a Preacher — Courteous- 
ness — Revivals 63-83 

CHAPTER IV. 

CONTINUATION OF MINISTRY — EDITORSHIP. 

Second Marriage — Interest in Missions — Revival Labors — Presid- 
ing Elder's estimate of Mr. H.'s Character and Ability — Elected a 
Delegate to General Conference — Appointment to Editorship of La- 
dies' Repository — Preaches in Presbyterian Church — Conversion 
during the Sermon — Letter from the Convert — Revival Work. . 84-93 

CHAPTER V. 

BAPTISM OF FIRE. 

Seeks the full Baptism of the Spirit— Much in Prayer— Intense 
Longings for the Image of the Heavenly — Progressive States of Grace 

— Sermon on Perfect Love — Bows at the Altar — Taking the Image of 

1* 



10 



CONTENTS. 



Christ by Faith — Joyful Surprise — Lost in the Ocean of Love — Chil- 
licothe Conference — Making Confession nnto Salvation— "Wonderful 
Blessings Pages M-101 

CHAPTER JL 

ABUNDANT IN LABORS. 

Abundant in Labors — Consuming Love for Sonls — Perfect Peace — 
Insatiable Desire to Preach Christ — Visit to a Dilapidated Village — 
Preaching in a Tavern — Many Saved — Mr. H. on Revivals — Separa- 
tion from the World — In Honor preferring Others — Incident — Lead- 
ing a Sinner to Jesns — Amazing Work of God in his Sonl — God 
Working wonderfully among the People — Attends Ohio Conference 
— Greatly Blessed — Early Rising — Heavy Labors — Letter to his 
Son 102-114 

CHAPTER VH. 

ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE — ILLNESS. 

Health-consuming Toil — Unprecedented Blessings — Letters to 
Friends — Attends Kentucky Conference — Oil of Love on Troubled 
Waters — Peacemaker's Blessing — Sin-consuming Love — Attends 
Ohio Conference — Filled with Glory and with God — Elected to Gen- 
eral Conference — Preaches in Mr. Beecher's Church — Love-feast 
Testimony — Complimentary Notices of the Press — Preaching in 
the Holy Ghost — Severe Illness — Blissful Experiences — Convales- 
cence — Decides to go to General Conference — Protest of Medical 
Advisers 115-133 

CHAPTER VHL 

ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 

General Conference — Improved Health — Unity of the Church 
threatened — Fast Day — " Unspeakably Blessed " — Pacification 
Committee — Unwelcome Congratulations — Unsought Honor pro- 
posed — Great Blessings — Much Business — Election to the Episcopal 
Office — Day of Holy Delights — Attends New York Conference with 
Bishop Hedding — Dr. Elliott's views of Service rendered by Bishop 
H. — Address before the General Conference on the case of Bishop 
Andrew 134-167 

CHAPTER IX. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : FIRST TEAR. 

Enters upon his Episcopal Work — Overwhelmed with unutterable 
Baptisms — Illness — Letter providentially detained — New Hamp- 
shire — Bursts of Praise in the Conference Room — His Estimate of Dr. 
Olin's Preaching — "Raining Tears and whispering Praises" — Hon- 
orary Degree — Visits several Conferences — Causes of Triumph and 
Trial — Return to Cincinnati — Employs his "rest time" in Visiting 
the Churches 168-182 



CONTENTS. 



11 



CHAPTER X. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : SECOND YEAR. 
Second Tear of Episcopal Labor — Building up the Churches in 
Holiness — Living near the Fountain — Exhortation to Charity — 
"Kissing the Hand that Stabs "— Sitting by the Death-bed of a 
Brother Minister — Perilous Times — Calmness amid Disquieting Cir- 
cumstances — Letters to Bishop Morris and Waugh on "Plan of Sep- 
aration" — Conferences — Times of Refreshing — Cardinal Doctrine 
guarded — Letter to Dr. Elliott on Entire Sanctification — Ohio Con- 
ference — Exciting Scene — Conference Love-feast — Scores of Minis- 
ters seeking Perfect Love Pages 183-219 

CHAPTER XI. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : THIRD YEAR. 
A Dying Church Resuscitated — Laboring in Christ's Strength — 
Remarkable Revivals — Blessing for Cursing — What will make a 
Minister like Jesus — Prayer with a Dying Woman — "Laborers 
together:" Mrs. H. — Visiting the Societies — Conferences — New 
Witnesses of Perfect Love — Great Results from Preaching Entire 
Sanctification — On the Witness of Purity — To a Superannuated 
Minister 220-230 

CHAPTER XII. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : FOURTH YEAR. 
Secret Journeyings of the Soul — Fourth Year of Episcopal Service 

— Visit to New York — Interview with President Mahan and Professor 
Upham — Visits the Churches — Preaches from three to five times 
Weekly — Precious Peace — Aged Christians — German Love-feast — 
Baltimore Conference — Washington — Preaches before the President 
and his Cabinet — Sympathy for an Unfortunate Minister — Happy 
Sabbath — Philadelphia Conference — Illness of his Son — Thoughts on 
an Episcopal Visitation to Africa — New Jersey Conference . . . 231-257 

CHAPTER XIH. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : FOURTH YEAR, CONTINUED. 
Birth-day Aspirations — New York Conference — Humiliations — 
Hlness of Mrs. H. — Labors at several of the New York Churches — A 
Christian Farewell — Maine Conference — Bishop Hedding — Hillsdale 

— Parlor Congregation — Oneida Conference — Dr. Olin a Witness of 
Perfect Love — Genesee Conference — Instructions to a Missionary — 
Niagara Falls — Michigan Conference — A precious Day — Cincinnati 

— Incessant Labors 258-289 

CHAPTER XIV. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR. : FIFTH YEAR. 

Fifth Year of Episcopal Labor — New Year — New Lesson on Faith 
—Inexpressible Beatitudes — Reading the Scriptures — " World of 



12 



CONTENTS. 



Light" — Exhaustive Labors — Recommends a General Conference 
Fast — Writes a Sermon on " Confessing and Believing " — Popularity 
vs. Conscience — General Conference — Preaches in Protestant Epis- 
copal and Presbyterian Churches — A Week in the land Beulah — 
Troy Conference — Zinzendorfism — New Text — Burning Thoughts — 
Wonderful Views of the Saviour — Conferences : Erie, North Ohio, 
Indiana, and Ohio — " Blessings on Benefactors and Malefactors" — 
" Words strangely full of Comfort " — Boy and the Wasp's Nest — 
Conversion of a Young Lawyer — Mother Kent — Death a Coro- 
nation Pages 290-336 

CHAPTER XV. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : SIXTH YEAR. 

Sixth Year of Episcopal Labor — Cholera — Talking about Jesus 
with Stage Passengers — Visiting and Praying with Aged People — 
" Family Meeting " — Sanctifying and Converting Power — Letter to 
a Missionary; Gospel, not Literature — Visit to Philadelphia, New 
York, and Newark — Providence Conference — Church without Altar 
and without Revivals — Strong Faith and strong Comforts — Heavy 
Business — Troy Conference — Preaching in a Grove — Conference 
Appointments and attending Colleges — Armor forged in Heaven — 
Conference — Ministers Hungering and Thirsting after Righteousness 

— Storm without and Peace within — Illness — Peace as a River — 
Letter to his Son — Farewell to the Year 337-364 

. CHAPTER XVI. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : SEVENTH YEAR. 

Seventh Year of Episcopal Labor — Failing Health— Room a Bethel 

— Revival in Cincinnati — " Day of Days" — Rev. R. S. F.'s experi- 
ence of Holiness — Severe Illness — Beulah Experiences — Sympathy : 
Letter from his Brethren of the Episcopacy — Convalescence — 
Christian (?) Parties — Letter to Rev. J. M. T. — Attends Wisconsin, 
Rock River, Iowa, and Illinois Conferences — Great Feebleness — Last 
Sermon — Spends the Winter in Peoria — Drinking at the Fountain 
Head 365-380 

CHAPTER XVII. 

DECLINING HEALTH — LAST YEAR OP EPISCOPAL LABOR. 
Last Year in the Episcopal Office — Delightful sense of God's Pres- 
ence — Heaven on Earth — Two Gates that must be Watched — " The 
Bible sweet " — Dressing for Eternity — Letter to his Son and Daugh- 
ter-in-law—Last Conference — Step from Death — E. Ford, Esq.: 
Temporary Home — Visit from Dr. Jesse T. Peck — To a Disciple of 
Professor Bush — Letters to Mrs. Eliza Garrett, Bishop Janes, 
and Bishop Morris — Nearer to Jesus — Letters : Rev. J. Young and 
Bishop Waugh — Views in regard to Giving — Letters to his Daughter- 
in ' lftw • 381-403 



CONTENTS. 



13 



CHAPTER XVm. 

RESIGNATION OP THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 

Act of Consecration — On the Testimony of the Spirit and the Pro- 
fession of Entire Sanctification — Great Trials — Peculiar Blessing — 
" Jesus only" — Letter to the Bishops — General Conference — Ten- 
dering his Resignation of the Episcopal Office — To Rev. Jacob Young 
— Report of the Committee on the Episcopacy — Opinions pro and con 
— Resignation accepted — Letter from Bishops Waugh, Morris, and 
Janes — Christian Minister compared with the Statesman — Fullness 
of Joy Pages 404-428 

CHAPTER XIX. 

HEAVENWARD BREEZES — HIS LIBERALITY. 

Heavenward Breezes — On taking a Voyage to Europe — Thoughts 
on his Fifty-sixth Birthday — Learning in the School of Christ — Death 
of Dr. Tomlinson — Physical Suffering — Views of Prophecy — Views 
of Rev. Mr. Caughey as a Revivalist — Educational Schemes — Conse- 
crates half his Income — A day of Blessings — Annual Contributions — 
Ineffectual Effort to reach New York— New Discoveries— Hamline Uni- 
versity — Repudiates giving for a Name — Christ in the Soul . . . 429-441 

CHAPTER XX. 

TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 

New Year's Benedictions — Eating Angels' Food — Midnight Visita- 
tions — Key of Paradise — Seriously 111 — Light on Prophecy — Ex- 
planatory Letter from Rev. D. Brooks — Giving and Receiving — Fiery 
Trial — God takes his Chosen Children to try — Timely Friends — 
Walking through the Valley — Wonderful Perceptions of God's Pres- 
ence and Smile — Faith in connection with Perfect Love — Great 
Trials succeeded by Great Triumphs — Memorable Day — In Instant 
Preparation for Death — Special Visitation of the Holy Spirit — Un- 
dismayed on Troubled Waters — Test to Faith and Patience — Baptism 
from on High — Birthday Gift 442-461 

CHAPTER XXI. 

REMOVAL TO MOUNT PLEASANT — DECLINING HEALTH. 

Removes to Mount Pleasant — Love to the House of God — Builds a 
Room for Class and Prayer-meetings — Interest for Ireland — Family 
Letters — Revival Meetings in the House — Holiness — Its Relation to 
a Revival — Favoring Tokens — Unfailing Zest in National and Church 
Interests — Steadily Declining Health — On the Rock — Home Class- 
meetings — Great Enjoyment — Thoughts of Death Pleasant — Death 
of Jacob Young 462-477 



14 CONTEXTS. 



CHAPTER xxii. 

HSASZHG THE LAXD BEULAH. 

Gracious Remembrances — Enrapturing Views of Benlah — Rood of 
Joy — Attired in the Wedding Robe — " God Living in the Heart n — 
"Wonderful Baptism — Transition from Tabor to Gethsemane — Lord's 
Supper — Sacrament to the Soul — Adjusting Faith to the Law and 
the Promises — Estimate of Class -meetings — Signs of the Times — 
Spiritualism: a Victim — War Scenes — Beligion: Life in the midst 
of Death — Fraternal Greetings — Letter to Hon. James Harlan — 
Faith for the Church and Loyalty to his Country — To Bishop Janes : 
Mementoes — Last Letter from the Bishops — To his Wife : Antici- 
patory of Approaching Dissolution — Wonderful" Peace — Great Suf- 
fering Pages 47S-504 

CHAPTER 1301] 

LAST ILL2vESS A2vD DEATH. 

Declining Strength and Increasing Suffering — Conflicts and Con- 
quests — Last Testimony at Class-meeting — Sudden Attack — Season 
of Peculiar Mercy — Messages of Lore — Christ's Sufferings — With 
the Marys at the Tomb — Prayer for the Church and the World — 
Fresh Baptism into Christ — Intense Suffering — Last Sacrament — 
Lofe for Sinners — "Fellowships of Heaven" — Rapturous Views — 
Last Conflict with the Powers of Darkness — Closing Scene — 
Funeral Services 50&-520 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

COXCIXDESG MEMOBIAE S. 

By Bev. Charles Elliott, D. D. — Bev. Jesse T. Peck, D. D. —Rev. 
F. G. Hibbard, D. D. — Rev. Thomas M Eddy, D. D. — Rev. B. F. 
•Crary, D. D. — Bev. William Reddy — Rev. William Nast, D. D. — 
Mrs. Phoebe Palmer 521-544 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER I. 

HIS EARLY DATS. 

In tracing the history of the subject of this memoir, it is our 
sole purpose to magnify the grace of God. " Not I, but the 
grace of God in me." So said the holy Paul ; and thus, with 
loving yet chiding looks and words, would our departed 
Bishop Hamline say, could he again revisit the shores of 
mortality, and witness a line written in perpetuating his mem- 
ory, calculated to attract a worshipful eye to the "creature 
more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen." 

Leonidas L. Hamline was born in Burlington, Connecticut, 
May 10, 1797. His parents were reputable members of the 
Congregational Church, then under the pastoral care of the 
Rev. M. Miller. His father, Mark Hamline, whose ancestors 
were French Huguenots, was remarkable for decision and energy 
of character, for moral integrity, for his love of strong Hop- 
kinsian views of Christian doctrine, and for his skill as a school- 
teacher, in which few of his times equaled him either in disci- 
pline or instruction. He was a New England farmer on a small 
scale, teaching school part of every year. It was a grief to 
him that his means did not justify educating this son according 
to his wishes. The parents of Mr. Hamline early designed him 
for the ministry, and shaped his education as far as possible to 
this end ; and when but ten or twelve years old he wrote a 
sermon on the text, " Why seek ye the living among the dead?" 
The ingenuity and talent it displayed surprised his father, and 
doubtless encouraged him to redouble his efforts for the minis- 
terial education of his son. 



16 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Of his early life little can be gaid. He was very precocious, 
amiable, obedient, devotedly attached to his parents, and 
affectionate to his brothers and sisters. 

His habits of intense study were formed very early. When 
ten years old his father used to send him to plow, and often 
found him resting his team while he sat on the plow so 
absorbed with his book as to have forgotten his work. 

His parents were careful in instructing him in the principles 
of our holy religion, and he was corrected for violations of its 
precepts. Of this we have an example in his own account of a 
chastisement received when four years old for profane language, 
and at remembrance of which sm, he said, but little before his 
death, " I still weep." 

His parents were particularly careful in their instructions 
respecting the religious observance of the Sabbath, impressing 
him with the fact that the command, " Remember the Sabbath 
to keep it holy," was one of the four first commands having 
direct reference to our duty to God, while the others referred 
more directly to our filial and social obligations. The regard 
for the Sabbath thus induced he retained through life; and 
when practicing law would never leave home for court on 
that holy day, even though he must rise at midnight and ride 
till court-hour on Monday to be at his post. Of this habit an 
excellent Presbyterian minister used to say, " Some good will 
yet come to Hamline for his observance of the Sabbath." In 
his later life he grieved to notice the least failure in Christians 
to regard that holy day. So careful was he in his observance 
of the day that his dear children and little grandchildren 
were never permitted, though living on the same square and in 
the same inclosure with him, to visit his house on that day 
even for a few moments, unless sickness or something very 
important and not unsuited to the day called them. This 
regard for the Lord's day seemed to be recognized by him who 
does for his people 

"Prepare a blest foretaste of heaven 
On this day more than all the seven." 

He was often so greatly "in the Spirit on the Lord's day" that 
his rapture seemed more than the body could bear, even while 



HIS EAKLY DAYS. 



17 



confined in the evening of life through long and weary years 
of suffering. 

At what date he became pious is not certainly known, but it 
must have been very early. He was active in social meetings 
and elsewhere, according to the times and the Church to which 
he was attached. When but sixteen or seventeen years old he 
began to teach school in winter and study in summer. From 
the best information we can obtain, in every school in which 
he taught there was a revival, which in some instances was 
so powerful as to suspend the duties of the school. Nor were 
these revivals mere scenes of excitement or ephemeral in- 
fluences. His views of sin and the atonement, according to the 
Calvinistic school in which he was trained, were clear, and 
faithfully were they urged on those under his influence. 
Whether correct or not, his parents and himself at that period 
deemed him an experimental Christian. His morality appears 
to have been rigidly pure until his mind, overwrought by 
intense application, for a short time lost its balance. He 
finally concluded that he had never been truly converted, an 
impression which he ever retained, and that he was wholly unfit 
for the Gospel ministry, and therefore turned his attention to the 
law. Of himself at this time he says : " My parents designed me 
for the ministry, and I was partly educated for that purpose. 
When sixteen years old I was convicted of sin, and was thought 
to be converted ; but, probably from the want of evangelical 
instruction, I came short of it. But encouraged by friends, I 
joined the Congregational Church, and became a warm youth- 
ful advocate of religion. I found I was not born again, but 
judged I was much like others around me and 1 hoped.' 

" In a few years I was satisfied that I had no religious fitness 
for the ministry, and ambitiously turned to the law. But 
difficulties met me in my proposed career of ambition, and 
though admitted to the bar at Lancaster, Ohio, in 1827, it 
pleased God in a strange manner to turn my attention another 
way, for which, though I suffered, yet I praise him." 

His sister states that his well-known strong aversion to the 
taste and smell of alcoholic liquors commenced in early child- 
hood, when some mischievous boys coaxed him into a cellar and 



18 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



gave him something of the sort to drink, which so intoxicated 
him that he came near dying. Subsequently, when the labor- 
ers wished to send him from the field, they always succeeded 
by threatening to give him " rum." 

From the same source we obtain the following: Several 
boys engaged in playing cards, by greatly urging Lent (the 
name by which in boyhood he was called) induced him to 
share their game. Early in the evening it was proposed to 
break up and go home; but having only about an inch of 
candle, they concluded to play till that burned out. They be- 
came absorbed in their game, and did not note the time till 
three o'clock, when they were startled to find that their candle 
was no nearer gone than when they consented to continue the 
game as long as it should last. Whether the boys imagined 
this or not, it proved salutary, for it is presumed none of them 
ever played cards again ; certainly the subject of this memoir 
did not. 

It is to be regretted that so few incidents of his early life are 
preserved. As instances of his power in debate when very 
young : He was boarding in New York for a few weeks, during 
which his host invited him to attend a meeting held from 
night to night, at which a Universalist minister was challeng- 
ing debate. After the challenge had been repeatedly given, 
with no response, his host urged him to take a part. He 
stepped forward and announced himself a youth seeking 
knowledge, and began to ask questions, to which the cham- 
pion responded from evening to evening, the house becoming 
more densely crowded, until defeat wore out the patience of 
the challenger, and he became rude and insulting. The mod- 
erator of the meeting expressed his regret that the young 
stranger who had been so courteous should have been treated 
so uncourteously. 

The meeting broke up, and as he was passing out of the 
house a gentleman, whose wife was leaning on his arm and 
weeping freely, accosted him, the lady saying, "You have 
saved my soul, sir. I am a member of the Presbyterian Church, 
and led on by the sophistry of that Universalist preacher, was 
about to leave my own and join his Church." 



HIS EARLY DAYS. 



19 



Subsequently he belonged to a debating club, which em- 
braced gentlemen of the bar and of the pulpit, some of them 
wholly irreligious. At one time the question for discussion 
was, " Is there a God ? " Mr. Hamline shrunk from the propo- 
sition, though then not a professor of religion. He was the 
more reluctant because a dear friend of his, since a judge of the 
Supreme Court of the United States, who was masterly in 
debate, and who he feared was inclined to skepticism, was 
placed on the negative. Several religious men, and one or two 
clergymen, were on the affirmative. He well knew the power 
of his friend in debate, and that he was, or would make himself, 
acquainted with all the known arguments on the affirmative, 
and prepare to meet them. Though on the negative by ap- 
pointment, Mr. Hamline said little, and when ready to take 
the vote the chairman said, "If we vote on the arguments as 
they now stand, we must vote that there is no God." A pious 
gentleman rose and moved that the debate be continued, and 
that Mr. Hamline be put on the affirmative. It was so ar- 
ranged, and he and his friend continued the discussion most of 
the night. Mr. Hamline trusted that his friend became con- 
vinced, if he had doubted that there is a God ; and that the 
meeting could at last vote strongly in the affirmative. The 
arguments he brought were originated on the occasion, and 
were based on the necessity of one wioriginated Being. 

Once when he was passing up the Ohio River the company 
in the gentlemen's saloon on the steamboat were engrossed for 
an hour or two by a noisy infidel, who had gathered a crowd 
around him, and was entertaining them with jeers at the Chris- 
tian religion. Mr. Hamline was walking back and forth 
through the saloon, not seeming to notice what was passing, 
though he observed that the speaker was eyeing him, and evi- 
dently wished to attract his attention. As he turned from time 
to time he drew nearer the scene of discourse. At length the 
boaster said, " When I die there will be no more of me than of 
my old white horse. Can you prove otherwise, stranger ? " 
appealing to Mr. Hamline, who turned quickly and said, " If 
when your old white horse [which he had put on a par with 
his own deluded self] is reposing under the shade in a hot 



20 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



summer day I should approach and whisper in his ear argu- 
ments to prove that he is immortal, would you not deem me 
a fool?" 

The company broke up in a roar of laughter, leaving the 
chagrined boaster to hide himself as best he could Was not 
this answering a fool according to his folly ? 

March 6, 1824, Mr. Hamline was married to Miss Eliza Price, 
of Zanesville, Ohio, an interesting, reputable lady, whom he ever 
had occasion to remember affectionately. But she was a frail 
flower, and seemed destined for a short earthly career. At the 
time of her marriage, alike with her devoted husband, she was 
a neglecter of salvation. The result of this union was four 
children, two sons and two daughters. Three of these died in 
infancy, Dr. L. P. Hamline, the second child, being the only 
survivor. When the first-born, Eliza Price, was taken from her 
fond parents at the age of two years and eight months, as sub- 
sequent pages will disclose, her death was made the occasion of 
transferring the affections of the bereaved parents from earth to 
heaven. So true is it that God takes our treasure to heaven 
that our hearts may be there also. 



DOCTRINAL DIFFICULTIES. 



21 



CHAPTER H. 

DOCTEINAI, DIFFICULTIES — NEW BIRTH. 

We now enter upon the most eventful period in the career 
of our departed friend. If the day of one's natural birth is 
noted and heralded among earthly kindred and friends as an 
eventful epoch, how much more important to the Christian 
world, and the ever-observant myriads of spiritual intelligences 
by whom we are surrounded, is the announcement that a soul is 
born into the kingdom of heaven ! Wonderful, truly wonder- 
ful is the thought ! It has been said that the resurrection of 
one soul from a death of sin to a life of holiness, is a greater 
miracle than the creation of a world. We do not marvel that 
a convoy from the celestial city await the issue of a repentant 
sinner struggling into new life. If the morning stars sang 
together at the world's creation, how much more rapturous 
must be the anthems of the burning seraphs around the throne, 
when the announcement is made of another and yet another 
soul created anew in Christ Jesus ! 

Yet how mysterious the change to the mere metaphysical 
reasoner! Some whom pride of intellect has hitherto kept 
from coming openly to Jesus by the lowly way of the cross, 
may be reading these pages. With some sincerity, if not with 
all the earnestness of Mcodemus, are they asking, " How can 
these things be ? " Could the sainted Bishop Hamline again 
visit the scenes of earth how would his redeemed spirit love to 
minister to such ! It was to them he would fain have minis- 
tered, and with his lips and pen did minister, while an inhab- 
itant of earth; and for the enlightenment of such, and to 
increase the joy of the righteous, he shall still speak. 

With his own inimitable pen Bishop Hamline has graphically 
sketched the particulars of his conversion, which in view of 
the magnitude of its issues, and the exceeding interest of its 



22 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



details, we, without apology for its length, transcribe for our 
readers. He ascribes his salvation in its incipient stages under 
God to Mrs. Maphet and her friends. 

" What can be done," said Mrs. Maphet, " for a gentleman who 
listens to all you say, admits his obligations, confesses his sins, 
yet goes on, careless to the extreme, plunging his soul into 
perdition ? " 

" Indeed, Mrs. Maphet, you mistake. He is far enough from 
these pliant admissions. True, he will not dispute with ladies, 
because he is too polite ; but he is a subtle Calvinist, as I learn 
from his conversation with my husband." 

"Don't you think, Mrs. Edwards, that he talks this way 
merely for argument ? V. 

"Ono; there's no mistake. He's a Calvinist, and one of the 
rankest sort. He told my husband yesterday that if he were to 
stab a neighbor at midnight, God would inspire him with the 
malice, and create the volition of the deed." 

" That is Calvinism with a vengeance." 

" Yes ; but my husband says it is true honest Calvinism, just 
as Calvin himself taught it, and as the standards of Calvinistic 
Churches maintain it, though its features are vailed or softened 
in the pulpit, so as not grossly to offend the public taste." 

"I suspect, Mrs. Edwards, that there is little hope of Mr. 
Hamline's conversion ; but he is here a stranger, and from his 
cast of mind will do much good or evil in the world. Let us 
make an effort to save him. I think he is a man of dreadful 
principles, and were his heart as bad as his head, I should be 
afraid he would turn out a murderer. This Calvinism is a 
dreadful thing." 

" I think badly enough of Calvinism, Mrs. Edwards ; that you 
may be sure ; but let it pass at present. I wish you would 
take this book to Mr. Hamline, and tell him that a lady 
requests him to read it ; and while he reads, will you join with 
me in secret supplication that God will bless its perusal to his 
conviction ? " 

" ' Fletcher's Appeal ! ' Mrs. M., he wont read it." 

" Try him, and if he declines I have no hope. If he reads 
it he will not escape without some serious reflection. Its philo- 



DOCTRINAL DIFFICULTIES. 



23 



sophical cast will suit his taste, and must arrest his attention. 
You know, too, that, like Moses's ark, it was woven with many- 
prayers. Carry it to him, and if possible get him to read it." 

Mrs. E. received the book, and bidding her neighbor good 
morning, walked toward home, praying as she went that Mrs. 
M.'s well-meant effort might do some good to her strange 
guest, though her prayer had less of faith and hope than it had 
of charity and desire. In a few minutes she was seated in her 
own chamber. It was winter. The door, as usual, was open 
into the parlor, where her husband and Mr. H. were seated by 
a large fire holding the following conversation, to which she 
listened with deep and mournful interest : 

E. Mr. H., let us leave that point, and turn to another. You 
said last evening that man is a free agent ; I wish to know 
what you mean by free agency ? 

H. That depends on the being to whom you refer it. God's 
free agency is one thing, man's is another. Do you ask of 
human free agency ? 

E. Of course, Man and his powers is the theme of our 
discussion. 

H. By human free agency I mean a power in man to execute 
his own volitions. This is, a freedom which comports with the 
doctrine of universal divine efficiency. It leaves man's agency 
free, but not independent. It is free, because it is in harmony 
with choice. It is not independent, because it waits on God 
for its volitions. 

E. Now, Mr. H., I have one question. In what consists the 
sinfulness of human action ? 

H. That is a difficult question to answer. If we say it lies 
in the deed, we contradict reason and Scripture ; if we place it 
in the volitions or in will, we seem to make God the sinner, 
and acquit man of blame ; yet there is a philosophical neces- 
sity to predicate sin of the will, which I do, and resort to 
certain explanations to avoid the conclusion that Deity sins. 

E. Pray what are these explanations ? 

H. There is a difference between the author and the agent of 
sin. Its author provides for its commission, but does not 
actually commit it. The guilt lies in commission, not in pro- 



24 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



vision. God, for instance, bestows on man the powers of his 
nature, the relations of his being, and generates in his bosom 
thoughts, affections, and volitions, either good or bad. These, 
in the wicked, are a divine provision for sinning ; but man is 
the agent for their use ; of course man, not God, is the sinner. 

E. Is not their use inevitable ? 

H. Certainly — inevitable, yet free. 

E. How is that possible ? 

H. Just as water flows freely yet inevitably down hill, or as 
vapors ascend spontaneously, yet necessarily, to lofty altitudes. 

E. But are the flowing waters or the ascending vapors blame- 
worthy for obeying the laws of nature ? 

Z£ No ; for they neither descend nor ascend intelligently, or 
from choice. Man's actions are intelligent, and by his own 
suffrage. They proceed from and gratify taste. This involves 
praise or blame, and of course warrants and demands either 
rewards or punishments. 

E. What ! when God inspires his tastes, gives him by direct 
donation, for example, a disposition to steal, rob, or murder, 
is he to be blamed or punished ? 

H. Yes ; for, as I just said, it is not the provision but its use 
which involves sin and involves punishment. 

E. On this ground how was Satan to blame for tempting 
Eve, or Eve for soliciting Adam ? 

H. Satan was acting beyond his sphere. He had no right to 
enter paradise, or to assail its happy inmates with temptation. 
You cannot by any of his deeds illustrate the agency of God- 
head. Deity, as the Creator and Preserver of all, is a sovereign. 
He may do, righteously, what it would be most flagitious for a 
creature to do. We must keep this in mind. It is a principle 
carefully inculcated in his word. " He works all things after 
the counsel of his own will," and then says, without apology 
or explanation, " Shall I not do what I will with my own ? " 

Here the conversation ended for the night. But just as Mr. 
H. took the lamp to retire Mrs. E. stepped in, and, handing 
him the book, repeated Mrs. M.'s request that he would " do 
her the favor to give it a reading." He received it with a 
courteous bow and thanks, saying that he would certainly 



DOCTRINAL DIFFICULTIES. 



25 



enjoy the pleasure of bestowing on it a careful perusal. He 
took the little volume to his room, laid it on the stand, pray- 
erlessly laid himself down to sleep, revolving with self-com- 
placency and a quieted conscience the subtle and, as he sup- 
posed, conclusive reasonings by which sin was shown to be 
inevitable, and of course, though in speculation he did not 
affirm it, God, and God alone, was to be blamed for its malice 
and its miseries. 

A few days afterward Mrs. M. called at Mrs. E.'s. She felt a 
solicitude to hear about the book, and could not but hope, 
from the fervor she had enjoyed in her devotions, that God 
was working by it some lasting good. 

" I received a little volume from you, Mrs. M., for which I 
return you my sincere thanks." 

" Excuse the liberty I took, Mr. H. I thought the philosophy 
of the treatise would entertain you ; and permit me to add, that 
I hoped a higher good would grow out of its perusal." 

" Mr. Fletcher is a lively writer, madam. There is French 
in his style. Not quite so profound as the Calvinistic school. 
Edwards is my favorite. His work on the Will is the glory of 
the human mind. Do not by this understand that I underrate 
Mr. Fletcher. He is. a fine, flowing writer, and I thank you, 
madam, for sending me the book." 

" Did you read the ' Address,' sir, which follows the argu- 
mentative part of the volume ? " 

"No, madam. I supposed the argument was what you 
designed for me ? " 

" I would be pleased, sir, if you could read the 1 Address.' " 

" I saw that it was designed for ' seekers of religion,' and as 
I am not a seeker, I did not think it applicable to my moral 
state." 

"Perhaps, Mr. H., it would induce you to be a seeker. 
That is my hope, and in it I solicit you to finish the volume." 

" Do you think, Mrs. M., that we can become seekers when 
we wish ? " 

" Yes, sir, I am of that opinion." 

" I thought, madam, this serious state of mind was induced 
always by a supernatural influence— by the Holy Spirit." 

2 



26 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



" Yes, sir ; of that I do not doubt ; but the Holy Spirit is 
waiting, unless I greatly err, to impart his gracious influences 
to every willing heart. He already moves you to seek a 
Saviour; and if you yield to his gentle drawings, he will 
greatly increase the influence until it becomes a. soul-converting 
energy." 

" There are so many differing opinions, Mrs. M., that one not 
skilled and experienced is at a loss what to conjecture. Some, 
you know, hold that the divine efficiency operates all moral 
changes, and that conversion is an unsought blessing, which 
none can gain by pursuing, or evade by resisting." 

" But surely, Mr. H., as you do not act on this principle in 
the affairs of life, you would not make a practical application 
of it in the weightier matters of religion. I cannot undertake 
to argue the disputed points of Christian theology. As to the 
nature of God's supervision of all things, and its harmony with 
our freedom, you can discourse much better than I ; but do not 
think it presuming when I say that I sought the different states 
of mind through which a stupid sinner journeys into the fellow- 
ship of God, and I sought not in vain. This makes me solicit- 
ous to see others seek, and causes me to believe that they will 
meet with like success." 

"Perhaps, Mrs. M., your seeking and receiving were con- 
nected only in point of time, and not in the order of cause and 
effect." 

" That might be the case if I were the only successful seeker. 
But many of my acquaintances have sought with similar 
results." 

"But have you not known some converted who did not 

seek?" 

" ITever one." 

" You will recollect better than I ; but I was considering the 
case of Saul of Tarsus." 

" True, sir, he was convicted before he sought, and that may 
sometimes happen. But after his conviction he waited three 
days before the scales fell from his eyes. In the mean time he 
was put upon seeking, and going into the city he prayed, and 
God showed him what he would have him to do." 



DOCTRINAL DIFFICULTIES. 



27 



"But, Mrs. M., this overwhelming conviction has never fallen 
on me." 

" Nor is it probable that it will. Saul's was an extraordinary 
case. You know that some become rich without trade, and 
some honorable without effort; but this is not the common 
course of things. Wealth generally comes from business and 
economy, and fame from enterprise and prudence. So a few 
are convicted of sin without studied diversion of mind from the 
world, or a diligent application to the means of grace. But, 
generally, efforts at devotion go before serious and deep con- 
viction. Let me ask you one question : Did you ever know a 
man become rich without effort ? " 

"Indeed, madam, perhaps — I scarcely know — I think — I 
believe I am not a competent judge. If you please, madam, 
I will excuse myself, and attend to a little writing in my 
room." 

Mr. H. retired. Mrs. M. felt some suspicion that his con- 
science was disturbed, and was encouraged to hope that prayer 
in his behalf was not wholly in vain. 

The months rolled on. One pleasant day in June Mr. H. 
was practicing a game of chess with Dr. C. In the midst of 
the game two gentlemen were introduced as " Methodist minis- 
ters." After brief salutations the interrupted game proceeded. 
Mr. H. and his friend were aware that it was rude to resume it 
so unceremoniously in the presence of clergymen, but they 
scarcely deemed Methodist preachers as legitimate incumbents 
of that sacred profession. 

Mr. H. had been taught from childhood that Wesleyanisin in 
all its types was the most pitiful of human fanaticisms. He 
knew nothing from observation. He had heard but two or 
three sermons from the sect. All he had read was the testi- 
mony of its foes ; and for some reason its enemies have generally 
deposed against it as " swift witnesses:'' He was once surprised 
to hear it averred that John Wesley had "been to college;" 
but he did not credit the report. He rather supposed that it 
was gotten up to invest the Wesleyans with unmerited respect- 
ability. 

Strange as it may seem to the well-informed, thousands of 



28 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



tliis day are equally ignorant. They know nothing of a branch 
of the Church embracing more than a million of their fellow- 
citizens, among whom are some of the ripest scholars and most 
profound jurists and civilians of the land. They fancy Method- 
ism to be a mass of rude and misshapen moral elements, unpro- 
vided with wisdom to devise, or stability to maintain an 
ecclesiastical polity. They deem it anything but a " Church," 
and look with condescending commiseration and concern on 
such as have enrolled themselves in its disorganized ranks; 
viewing them not as disciples of Christ, but rather as fugitives 
from all religion. Its pastoral efficiency, diffusive energy, and 
strict unity, through class-leaders, the itinerancy, and a general 
superintendency, are all unknown. Thus its fruits, so rapidly 
accumulating, are charged upon "excitement," or ignorantly 
ascribed to a " lax moral discipline." Yet all are aware, except 
when some unamiable solicitude prompts them to forget it, that 
if the "excitement" were not religious, it would have worn 
itself out years ago, and that, among Protestants, a lax moral 
discipline is so far from building up, that it inevitably pros- 
trates what is already edified. 

The game of chess was finished. Perhaps some movement 
was made toward another. At all events, one of the ministers 
interposed a question, which was followed by nearly the follow- 
ing dialogue : 

Minister. That must be an intricate game, judging from the 
deep attention you bestow on it." 

H. (Slightly embarrassed.) It is intricate, and perhaps, gen- 
tlemen, we owe you an apology. 

Min. Is it a useful game ? 

H. So it is accounted by many judicious persons. 

Min. To what good account may it be turned ? 

H. It is an intellectual game. Chance can do nothing for the 
parties. The skill of the player is tested by its result. 

Min. It is, then, like "billiards" or "nine pins." 

H. O no, sir, not at all ; mind has nothing to do with these. 
They tend to weaken rather than strengthen the intellect. 
Chess is a means of mental discipline ; its influence is like that 
derived from the study of mathematics. 



DOCTKINAL DIFFICULTIES. 



29 



Mm. I see, sir ; chess is a game of intellectual, billiards of 
mere manual, skill. 
H. Exactly, sir. 

Min. Do you not think, sir, that Euclid would be a safe sub- 
stitute to train the opening mind ? 

II. O yes; but Euclid is too severe for unremitting study. 
We must have relaxation; no man can endure to plod at 
science always. 

Min. But, Mr. H., if chess is so much like mathematics, how 
can it subserve the ends of relaxation. I should think, from 
your account, that it would only be exchanging one heavy bur- 
den for another. As a means of mental discipline, I cannot 
approve the game. You know that study has two objects : one 
is to train the mind to the vigorous use of all its powers ; if 
chess, as you aver, accomplishes that end, another of great 
importance it never can subserve, namely, the acquisition of 
knowledge. 

II. It has not all the uses of science, but it has one peculiar 
advantage ; by provoking to emulation it rouses mind to its 
best efforts ; and it also blends relaxation with mental disci- 
pline. 

Min. What relaxation can it give ? If you were preparing to 
address a jury, would you not prefer a walk in the garden to a 
game of chess just before you commence the argument ? 

II. You drive me to close quarters. The relaxation it affords 
is somewhat general, and I cannot just now specify partic- 
ulars. 

Here the conversation took a new turn. Whether the theme 
was changed by design or by accident is immaterial. The next 
topic was camp-meetings. Mr. H. was invited to attend one 
just about to commence in the neighborhood. He declined. 
He did not " approve of such meetings." He had heard much 
of " the unseemly confusion which prevails at these forest gath- 
erings," and could not think it right to encourage them. 

" Have you ever attended a camp-meeting ? " said the minister. 

H. No, sir ; I was not willing to invade others' rights, and 
was aware that if I went I should be provoked to levity. I 
therefore resolved not to go near them. 



30 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Mini. But ought you to condemn them on the testimony of 
others, when you might have made your own observations ? 

H. My witnesses were unimpeachable, and, I presume, stated 
facts. 

Mini. But I submit it to you, as a lawyer, whether inspection 
is not better than report. 
H. I suppose it is. 

Min. Then you have unwarrantably condemned us. I think, 
Mr. H., you should come to our meeting. "We may surely claim 
that our trial, as the instigators and supporters of camp-meet- 
ings, be according to the "rules of evidence which require" the 
best evidence that the nature of the case admits. 

H. That is not unreasonable ; and now I will either come to 
your meeting, or say no more on the subject of disorder. 

After dinner the clergyman departed. Mr. H. was sur- 
prised, not to say mortified, to find an " ignorant Methodist 
preacher" so well informed, and withal so shrewd in con- 
versation, that even on topics concerning which he supposed 
clerical men knew very little, the argument was rather against 
himself. 

"You caught a Tartar," said the doctor, as the gentlemen 
withdrew and left Mr. H. and his companion to trifle away 
another hour at chess. 

The third day after this, as Mr. H. was walking in the yard, 
the doctor rode up and asked him if he would visit the camp- 
ground. 

H. You are not serious ? 

Dr. Get into my carriage, and I will show you. 

H. Then I answer no ; I cannot ride in that direction. Any- 
where else, if you please. 

Dr. But they have got into difficulty with the rowdies, and 
want your advice. 

" Go, husband," said Mrs. H., who, overhearing the conversa- 
tion, had come to the door, and was listening to the proposal 
with deep interest. 

Mr. H. looked first at the doctor and then at his wife, as 
uncertain what to do, or whether either was in earnest. 

E. Doctor, you say they are in trouble. 



NEW BIRTH. 



31 



Dr. Yes, and they ought to be protected in their rights. I 
wish you would go over and help them. 

H. Well, this is the legitimate result of camp-meetings ; yet, 
as you say, they have the right — that is, the legal right — to 
worship God or Satan, if they will, undisturbed. I will go 
with you in ten minutes. 

Mr. H. made a hasty preparation, took a seat , in the doctor's 
carriage, and in one hour was, for the first time, in full audience 
of a camp-ground. He had lived thirty-one years, much of the 
time in proximity to such meetings ; yet, though often urged, 
he had never before approached such a scene. As he neared 
the encampment his curiosity became intense. He leaned for- 
ward in a listening attitude to catch the sound of many voices 
which struck upon his ear. He expected to witness the wildest 
disorder, and the most incoherent ravings; but the distant 
voices which greeted him were all in concert and harmony. It 
was the sound of praise swelling out from the midst of the 
forest in slow and well-distinguished measure, like pealing 
anthems from the groves of paradise. They stopped in the 
midst of straggling parties of profane, vulgar men, whose ap- 
pearance almost justified Mr. H.'s preconceived notion of a 
camp-meeting. But alighting and leaving the horse and car- 
riage to other hands, in a few minutes the "outer court" was 
passed, and the doctor and his friend entered the area conse- 
crated to the worship of Jehovah. In this was a very large 
assembly, standing in graceful order, and singing a hymn 
which, after the manner of the Methodists, was "lined" by a 
minister, who occupied a sheltered platform before them. The 
two thousand voices which made the music seemed like the 
spontaneous gushing forth of superabounding joy. Prayer 
followed, and then those words, 

" Content "with beholding his face, 

My all to his pleasure resigned, 
No changes of season or place, 

Can make any change in my mind," 

were poured out upon the depths around, and creation seemed 
to be hymning its thanksgivings to the great Author of life and 
its beatitudes. 



32 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



The hymn closed. The congregation silently settled down 
into their seats, and the preacher who had so lately challenged 
the utility of chess arose to address them. He named a familiar 
text, which, in its exposition and discussion, brought to view 
the depravity of the heart and the necessity of an incarnate 
and crucified Saviour. He set forth man, in all his attributes, 
fair and repulsive ; in his guilt, shame, and misery, and in one 
other feature, which was almost new to Mr. H. He represented 
this guilty being as absolutely helpless, unable to turn and do 
good works " without the grace of God by Christ preventing 
him, that he may have a good will, and working with him 
when he has that good will." 

The discourse was not perfect, It had not that exact unity 
which is displayed in the sermons of Wesley, nor the inimitable 
simplicity which graces his masterly productions. Yet it was 
manly and convincing in thought and delivery, and so superior 
to Mr. H.'s ideas of " Methodist preaching n that he was taken 
wholly by surprise. He was compelled to acknowledge that 
not one written sermon in fifty from the trained theologians 
of the day possessed half the merit of this, what seemed to be, 
extempore discourse. 

The preacher closed with a pathetic appeal to saints and 
sinners, endeavoring to rouse the zeal of the former and the 
fears of the latter. He was successful. Amens, blessings, and 
halleluiahs were intermi x ed with sighs, groans, and tears, until 
the voice of the preacher was drowned. Unable any longer to 
be heard, he fell back from his station, and standing in the 
midst of ten or twelve of his brethren, who had now risen to 
their feet, he remained, statue-like, with his streaming eyes and 
supplicating hands uplifted to heaven, and all the deep fervors 
of his soul beaming forth in his expressive features. In this 
posture there was nothing dramatic. It was evidently unpre- 
meditated and spontaneous. Mr. H. felt it to be so. He had 
looked for greater extravagances, but he expected to detect a 
fraud where he now plainly perceived the convincing evidences 
of deep sincerity. He had never before witnessed a spectacle 
so purely and movingly sublime. The holy man before him 
seemed gradually to be transformed in every shape and linea- 



NEW BIRTH. 



83 



ment, till Mr. H. could scarcely realize that the great Intercessor 
himself had not suddenly reappeared to pour his healing 
benedictions on the vast multitude. At this instant there was 
a stir in the midst of the assembly. Mr. H. cast his eyes in. its 
direction and saw a man, in the meridian of life, of remarkably 
athletic appearance, rushing through the crowd toward the 
stand. His hands were clenched and raised toward heaven, and 
his features were distorted with agony. He reached what was 
called the altar, and falling upon his face gave one shriek 
which sounded like a note of despair, and lay helpless and 
silent, a spectacle to the gazing multitude. "Come forward!" 
exclaimed the minister from the stand, repeating the invitation 
with pressing earnestness. In a minute their words were re- 
sponded to by groans, shouts, shrieks, and halleluiahs. The 
voices of the preachers were no longer heard, but they con- 
tinued to wave their hands, and by gesture invite the people 
forward. A rush commenced for the altar, and scores were 
soon kneeling or fallen within it, while others in masses 
were pressing around them, mingling their loud expressions 
of triumph with the wailings of their unconverted but 
heart-stricken friends. The preachers descended from their 
stations, and mingling with the people, pointed sinners to the 
cross, and urged the devout to plead in prayer for their con- 
version. 

Mr. H. watched the progress of the scene with emotions 
which he could scarcely endure, yet could by no effort suppress. 
He had heard just such scenes described. He supposed that a 
view of them would provoke in his bosom no other feeling 
than disgust. But it was otherwise. He felt a solemnity, an 
awe so great that a faintness came over him ; and unwittingly 
he leaned, pale and trembling, against a tree, and every now 
and then his hand was upon his heart, as though it were uneasy 
and pained within him. Nor did he observe that his friend, 
with a sang froid peculiar to himself, eyed him closely, and 
read in his manner the perturbations of his mind. At length 
the doctor said, 

" Mr. H., suppose we step forward and see what is going 
on?" 

2* 



34 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



u Doctor, I am sick of it. This is a singular scene, and I am 
at a loss what to think. I believe we had better return." 

" Tut ! we must stay long enough to speak with these min- 
isters, and hear one or two more of them preach." 

So saying he seized Mr. H. by the arm, and casting at him a 
significant glance, as much as to say, " Are you frightened ? " 
drew him along to a position where more than a hundred sin- 
sick souls were crying for mercy. 

The sight was wholly new to Mr. H. He had never until 
then seen a sinner convicted to the point of crying aloud in the 
presence of others for the pardon of sin. Now, to behold so 
many writhing in such insupportable agony, though he strove 
to be a stoic, nearly overwhelmed him. But he endeavored to 
rally himself, and at last resolved to examine one convict after 
another more minutely. He thought to detect in them some 
tokens of affectation or hypocrisy, which would relieve his 
mind of the growing apprehension that this was a divine power 
moving on the hearts of the people. 

The first upon whom he fixed his attention was a young man 
kneeling before him, with his face in his handkerchief, uttering 
suppressed cries for mercy; and though not loudest in his 
grief, apparently one of the most earnest in petition. With 
the right hand he pressed his handkerchief to his face, and 
with the left alternately clutched the railing and smote his 
breast. " I will watch him," thought Mr. H., " until I see the 
result." He fastened his eyes upon the youth, as resolved to 
detect in him the cause of his real, or the proof of his pretended 
distress. For half an hour the struggle increased in violence^ 
and then, from exhaustion, grew more and more feeble. At 
last the young man became motionless and silent. Mr. H. was 
about to relinquish his position, but had not yet turned away his 
eyes when the young man began to say in an undertone, " Blessed 
Saviour !" with frequent yet solemn repetitions ; his voice mean- 
while waxing louder, and his manner more and more confident 
and joyful, till at last, springing to his feet, he uttered in loud 
accents the raptures of his soul. What was Mr. H.'s surprise 
to find from his features, till now concealed, that this was a 
youth of his acquaintance, in whose good sense and sincerity 



NEW BIRTH. 



35 



he had unbounded confidence. The suspicion of fraud was 
quickly banished, and it remained to inquire for the cause of so 
great sorrow, succeeded by such joy. 

At this moment Mr. H.'s attention was drawn another way. 
The leader of this melee — the rude athletic man who first ap- 
proached the altar — had risen from the ground, and with loud 
cries for mercy was plunging this way and that way to the 
detriment of those around, and not without danger to himself. 
A glance or two satisfied Mr. H. that he also was an acquaint- 
ance. In a civil suit, involving petty interests, he had applied 
for counsel, and this had revealed his character to Mr. H. in a 
most repulsive light. He was a sinner extraordinary. But his 
appearance did not indicate that he meant to continue such. 
He was repenting. They who knew him could not doubt it. 
His lips were compressed, and unequivocally bespoke the hor- 
rors of unconcealed contrition. Mr. H. grew dizzy as he gazed, 
and like the tones of the last trumpet these words of Jesus fell 
upon his heart : " Verily I say unto you, the publicans and har- 
lots go into the kingdom of heaven before you." The word of 
God is " quick and powerful," but the Spirit makes it so. Its 
blow was heavy then on the conscience of Mr. H. He became 
sick and faint. His friend saw it, and though an infidel, he 
was for a moment moved. They drew back from a scene so 
uncongenial to their taste, and took a seat where they could not 
see, yet might hear the continued expressions of grief and joy. 

The altar-scene may seem to the reader extravagant even 
for a camp-meeting. If so, we will not dispute the point. Say 
it was extravagant; or, in other words, that there was more 
excitement manifest than was philosophically necessary to 
secure the moral results which followed. In the case of such 
admission, why was not Mr. H. offended and repulsed ? As he 
had heard them described, and as his imagination had pictured 
them, he, above all men, had loathed these disorders. What 
could suddenly have made over his nice sense of propriety — 
his taste — to an approving, or, at least, to a sympthetic interest 
in these "wild" proceedings? That a state of mind had 
occurred to him differing from all he conceived possible in 
such circumstances, is indisputable. How happened it? He 



36 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



had neither sought nor avoided it, for even its possibility had 
never once occurred to him. As the trout approaches the anglers 
bait, he had approached the place without suspicion that any- 
thing was there, except a little food for coarse levity or inquisi- 
tive curiostiy. Two hours had scarcely passed, and he had ex- 
perienced a solemn conviction of the error of this opinion. He 
was now in moral duresse. With a barbed hook in his jaws, 
his mind seemed to be plunging all round about, vainly seeking 
disentanglement, while every fitful effort heightened the torture 
of his conscience and increased the force of its misgivings. 

Will it be charged that this was a morbid state of mind ? 
Descend, then, from the genus to the species, and define this 
morbid state. What passion was diseased ? Mr. H. was not a 
coward. He had no predisposition to religious apprehensions. 
He had heard from chiidhood up the most moving descriptions 
of the woe and wail of undone souls. These, though enforced 
with appeals of chastened eloquence well adapted to his men- 
tal susceptibilities, had produced no saving influence. Yet 
now, amid scenes which seemed only calculated to provoke 
his quick disgust, or move his mind to memrnent, he was 
" pricked in the heart." Was it not by the Holy Spirit ? The 
frame of Mr. H.'s mind can scarcely be described. It was 
nearest to a state of wonder. He had no longer any fixed 
opinions in regard to what he now first saw, namely, the " dis- 
orders of Methodism." The confusion of his mind set afloat 
all his preconceived views of religion. This confusion arose 
from the stirrings of his heart. He was smitten, and the blow 
had reached and wounded " the inward parts." Had he been 
questioned, he could not have explained either the source or 
the seat of the disorder ; nor how, nor perhaps why, he was 
pained. But whatever he might or might not have answered, 
the uneasiness of his mind could not be concealed. The doc- 
tor saw it, and, though hardened, he was not uninterested to 
see the sharer of his pleasures so taken by surprise. For once 
he was truly in a dissatisfied, it might be said, a serious mood. 
" For once," we say, because seriousness was neither his habit 
nor his tendency. This an observing stranger would easily have 
inferred from his expressive physiognomy. On his face were 



NEW BIRTH. 



37 



so plainly pictured the mischiefs of his heart, that it was diffi- 
cult to behold him and not divine his temper. He was full of 
wit, and sophistry, and guile. None knew better how to play 
a part, and to conceal the hand that played it; none knew 
better how to enjoy the ripening plot. He had a vigorous, 
perverted intellect. In religion he was by turns everything, 
and of course at heart nothing. He discarded revelation, 
ridiculed devotion, and presumed that God (if God there were) 
was busy enough about his own affairs without " impertinently 
interrupting the quiet and pleasures of mankind." He dreaded 
no such "impolite and troublesome interference." He pre- 
sumed Deity was not so " consummate a tyrant that he would 
create corrupt or sinful beings merely to torture them in hell." 

The doctor had not always been so reckless of religion. His 
youthful cogitations were by turns somewhat devout; but he 
suffered his growing passions — not his reason — to remodel his 
pliant creed. His heart had ministered moral poison to his 
brain till both were charged with the infection. One result 
was the loss of philanthropic sympathies — a dreadful hardening 
of the heart. This had increased upon him in the progress of 
his life till he had nearly become a stranger to pathetic states 
of mind ; so that when propriety demanded it his countenance 
was reluctant to put on a shade of gravity. At this time his 
humor faltered of its own free accord ; but his features were 
more comical from the opposite and mixed emotions they 
betrayed. That archness, so habitual, still lurked in the cor- 
ners of his eyes, while the unwelcome, graver sympathies, which 
were "pilgrims and strangers" in his bosom, seemed to be 
timidly invading his heart, and spreading their half-unfurled 
banners over his resisting, agitated countenance. Happy for 
him (for he died a hopeless death) had he then resigned him- 
self to the wooings of the Spirit ! 

Mr. H. was not regardless of the doctor's manner; for his 
pride was interested to find in the bosom of his obdurate 
infidel companion such emotions as had suddenly sprung up 
within his own. Of course, when a shade of slight concern 
spread along the lines of the doctor's changing countenance it 
gave Mr. H. lively satisfaction. Little was said by either ; the 



38 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



crisis was on one side too painful for metaphysics, and on the 
other too grave for wit or ridicule. 

Whether the scene at the altar be deemed extravagant or 
not, a strange concern about religion was spread abroad among 
the people. It checked the rudeness of impiety, and hushed 
all profane disorder. It now seemed that the restraints of law 
were needless; but to make the matter absolutely sure, it was 
concluded that the protecting statute be read, and the congre- 
gation warned against disorderly behavior. Mr. H. was called 
upon to execute this service. He declined ; but the invitation 
was repeated in a very urgent manner, and the doctor adding 
his solicitations, and offering to " stand by him," he assented. 

A horn gave a few loud blasts, and in a short time the songs 
and prayers were hushed. Mr. H., with his companion and the 
preachers, ascended the stand, and sat where he had an oppor- 
tunity to observe the regulations for public worship. Throngs 
of people were gathering from all directions and silently drop- 
ping into their seats. Their eyes were generally directed toward 
the stand. Mr. H. thought that he himself was the object of 
universal and inquiring observation. Some mistook him for a 
preacher just arrived, but many knew him; and others had 
received hints as to his real character, and his dislike of camp- 
meetings. Not knowing what could be his errand in the stand, 
they watched him, of course, with inquisitive curiosity. He 
was not in a state of mind to overlook this demonstration. He 
felt a certain moral nakedness within him which rendered these 
prying glances unacceptable. He moved backward on his 
seat, which was crowded, and partially screened himself behind 
the person of the doctor. But he still grew more and more 
uneasy and embarrassed, till he seemed like a culprit at the 
grand assize, brought forth and exposed to the whole universe. 

At the very crisis of this inconvenient state he was told to 
"proceed." The assembly was now waiting in perfect order 
and stillness. "With a paper containing a lease of the ground, 
and a volume of the New York Statutes, Mr. H. advanced to 
the front of the stand, and with a perturbation which was man- 
ifest to all, proceeded to explain the legal rights of the wor- 
shipers, and the liabilities of those who should disturb them. 



NEW BIETH. 



39 



The embarrassment of Mr. H. was, perhaps, the remote means 
of his conversion. It surprised many, and was ascribed at once 
by a large proportion of the pious to incipient conviction. 
What followed ? While he stood before them a mark for the 
arrow, hundreds of prayers ascended to God in his behalf. For 
the incidents of that hour, Mr. H. was heard in after life to 
praise God. 

But to conclude. Mr. H.'s views of camp-meetings were 
known abroad. The irreligious, of course, surmised that he 
would speak professionally, while in his private feelings he 
would condemn "such delusions." It is not to be supposed 
that he himself premeditated any grave defense of camp-meet- 
ings. He proposed to expound the statute and retire from 
observation. But as he proceeded he grew confident, and went 
on to say that this was his debut upon a camp-ground; that he 
had looked for repulsive exhibitions, but that the very things 
which in description had disgusted him appeared inoffensive 
to the eye. He then spoke to the disorderly, assuring them 
that " he who had the cowardice to interrupt these solemnities 
was tpo mean to be cursed by any decent man." 

After Mr. H. had concluded his remarks, a minister arose and 
proceeded with the usual exercises The sermon being closed, 
the mourners were called, and a great multitude came forward 
again for prayer. The presiding elder, " Father S.," turned to 
Mr. H. and said : " Come, my friend, go with me to that vacant 
place at the altar, and let us kneel together before God." 

H. Excuse me, Mr. S. ; I am a hardened sinner, and dare not 
approach a place so sacred while my heart is unmoved. 

S. That, sir, is Satan's device. He would rob you of God's 
pardoning mercy. If your heart is hard you should go to the 
altar to get it softened. The more obdurate it is, the more you 
need the prayers of God's people, and the more prompt you 
should be to assume the attitude in which you may enjoy them. 

H. Surely, Mr. S., you would not have me assume the posture 
without the spirit of mourning. 

8. Surely I would if you cannot otherwise assume it. Do you 
not wish to mourn ? 

II. I suppose not, or I should mourn. 



40 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



8. And do you always, then, feel as you wish to feel ? 

H. In religion I suppose I do. That is the view I have taken 
of religion when skepticism has not prevailed over belief I 
have heard it said that 11 every man has just as much religion as 
he desires.'" 1 Is it not true ? 

S. No, sir. The habitual state of a devout heart is that of 
desire ; and one of the most conclusive, indirect evidences of a 
gracious state is a thirsting after God and his salvation. 

H. But if God does not satisfy holy desires is he not tyranni- 
cal, and a violater of his promise ? 

8. "What promise ? 

H. "He that hungers and thirsts after righteousness shall be 
filled." 

S. 31r. EL excuse me to-day from all doctrinal and metaphys- 
ical discussions. I urge upon you a simple effort to seek relig- 
ion, assuring you, from God, " they that seek shall find." My 
duty toward you now lies in a narrow compass. Trill you go 
with me and kneel down at the altar ? 

H. I repeat, sir, that to do it would be hypocrisy. Sinful as 
I am, I should fear to desecrate that altar by approaching it 
without tempers befitting such a posture. I have no just con- 
ceptions of my depravity, no proper desires for renovation, and 
to do what would indicate such desires would be adding deceit 
to insensibility. 

8. "What do you mean by proper desires for renovation ? 

H. I mean a desire for renovation for its own sake, not for its 
resulting benefits. 

8. "Will you never seek religion until you can do it without 
regard to its benefits ? 

H. Indeed, sir, to tell the truth, I know not what I shall do. 
But I confess that I am all wrong, or these people are not right. 
I cannot, however, go with you to the altaT ; I am selfish, and 
my nature seems worse than common natures. If I wish for 
religion, it is merely as a step to heaven — mark that — as a mere 
step to heaven. I have no love for religions self. I want not its 
purity, but its peace ; not its sore travail of duties and self-denials, 
but its escape from the maelstrom of perdition to the beatific rest. 

How common is this error on the part of the converted as 



NEW BIRTH. 



41 



well as the unconverted. It is cardinal in some systems of 
theology. Is not religion a unit ? Ought we, as Solomon the 
woman's child, to divide and then embrace it? Should we 
crave a part, and not all ? Must we sinners attain a benevo- 
lence so refined that we shall covet merely conflicts and crosses, 
and have no regard to crowns ? Surely it is not damning to 
"have respect unto the recompense of reward." Moses was 
commended for the wisdom of a choice induced by this very 
motive. Was the apostle heretical in the commendation ? 
Even the immaculate Jesus endured the cross for " the joy that 
was set before him;" an example which is urged on our dili- 
gent imitation. As to Mr. H.'s proposition, that " every man 
has as much religion as he desires," in one sense it is true. 
Such desire is itself a religious affection, produced by the Holy 
Spirit. It follows that, metaphysically, a man has as much 
religion — that is, in this form — as he has religious desire. But 
it is not true that other religious affections, as faith, love, meek- 
ness, peace, and joy, are equal to a pious man's desires for those 
graces. Mr. H. did not perceive that the very words he repeat- 
ed, " they that hunger and thirst shall be filled," imply craving 
or desire as a condition of the promised beatitude. He forgot 
the publican, too, who certainly had not all the religion he 
desired when he cried, " God be merciful to me a sinner ! " He 
should have reflected that prayer itself is chiefly an expression 
of desire, and that if we have all the religion we crave there 
can be no occasion to supplicate. 

Mr. H. did not approach the altar. He remained at the 
meeting until its close, and his mind grew more and more per- 
plexed ; his rest was broken, and he seemed careworn. To all 
who knew him there were in his countenance unequivocal 
tokens of deep inward disquiet. When he returned, his wife 
met him at the door; but her eye no sooner fell upon his 
features, as she was advancing with great cordiality to welcome 
him, than she uttered an exclamation of concern, and said, 
" Husband, what ails you ? Surely you have been sick." On 
his assuring her that he was well, she exchanged her look of 
alarm for an expression of humor, and said, " Then you must 
have got the power." The reply was embarrassed, and in a 



42 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



manner so serious that both soon fell into a grave and silent 
frame, attended with reflections on the part of Mrs. H., which 
were probably more or less connected with the religious habits 
of her after life. 

For the two following months Mr. H.'s mind was in a restless 
state. He proved the truth of that saying, " There is no peace 
to the wicked ;" and of that also, " The wicked are like the 
troubled sea when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire 
and dirt." Yet, unhappy as he was under the lashings of a 
guilty conscience, he did not seek religion. He declined a 
course which would have brought not only peace to his heart, 
but would probably have saved him from the sorest outward 
calamities. These became necessary to render effectual the 
grace which had roused him from his slumbers. Indeed, so far 
was he from heartily cr} T ing to the Lord, that he sinned more 
greedily than ever, which is probably one instance among 
many of the great vigilance with which Satan watches and 
counteracts the operations of God's Spirit on the heart. The 
city is never so well sentineled and guarded as when it is 
besieged by the foe. 

At two o'clock on the morning of September 10, 1828, Mr. 
and Mrs. H. might have been seen in earnest consultation over 
the sick cradle of their only child. She was two years and a 
half old, and of such a mould that not only her partial parents 
thought well of her, but strangers noticed her for a "lovely 
child that would not live to grow up." Little Jane P. had 
been sick for four days with cholera infantum, and her attend- 
ing physician had not succeeded in checking the malignant 
symptoms of the disorder. She had grown worse through the 
night just mentioned, and the parents had become much 
alarmed. " Suppose, husband, we send for Dr. D.," said Mrs. 
H. " He is highly spoken of, and is as near as any physician." 

H. I have no objection ; but I assure you there is no hope. 
I believe that the child will die, and I have felt so from the 
beginning. It is a deeply-wrought impression in my bosom 
that she will be taken from us on my account. 

Mrs. H. How on your account, my dear ? 

H. I cannot explain. If I live you shall hereafter know; 



NEW BIRTH. 



43 



but at present I will call James, and request him to go for 
Dr. D. 

James was called. He was a pious young man, just from 
college, and deeply affected by the approaching calamity 
which he believed impended over Mr. and Mrs. H. 

He rose and came in haste to the sick room, where he list- 
ened attentively to the request of his friends, and. hurried to 
execute their wishes. In due time he returned, and was soon 
followed by Dr. D., who, after carefully examining the child's 
symptoms, retired to give his views to the attending physician. 
During their consultation Mr. H. appeared anxious and agitated. 
He walked rapidly back and forth in the sick room, with his 
eye constantly turned to the cradle, over which the sorrowing 
mother bent in fondest solicitude. Of a sudden the child drew 
up her limbs, and exclaimed, " I fall ! I fall ! " Mr. H. paused. 
The unsuspecting mother pressed her child's forehead, and 
said soothingly, " No, my baby shall not fall ;" repeating it till 
the little one was quieted. But it was the quiet of a moment. 
She was again spasmodically affected in the same manner, but 
more violently, and at the same instant her features collapsed, 
and the seal of death was upon her sharpened countenance. 
Mr. H. rushed to the door to call the physicians, and then first 
his wife saw the truth. She sprang wildly up, and exclaimed, 
" My baby will die ! " The little one caught the words from 
her mother's lips, and said, " Baby die ! baby die ! " and with 
her faltering tongue and fainting voice repeated it until she 
became insensible. The doctors hurried in and exclaimed, 
" She is gone ! " Death soon finished his work, and in a few 
moments this budding flower was blooming fadelessly in the 
garden above. 

She was an idol. The mother's love and the father's am- 
bition had little regard to any object beyond the family 
circle. The incidents of her death, as here related, may seem 
trivial to the reader, but they are mentioned because they are 
among the means by which God rendered his grace effectual to 
the conversion of souls. 

When this child was taken ill Mr. H's feelings foreboded its 
death. The augury was not so much of the imagination as of 



44 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



the conscience. That faithful monitor whispered, "For two 
long months has the Holy Ghost convicted thee of sin. That 
time hast thou spent in striving with thy Maker, in grieving the 
blessed Spirit. Hadst thou yielded and turned to the Lord, it 
should have been well with thee. But thou wouldst not turn. 
Since thou wilt not be drawn by mercy, thou shalt be tried by 
judgments. God shall second the workings of his Spirit by 
the severe chastisements of his rod. 1 ' 

Thus did an inward voice seem to prophesy in the ear of one 
who had slighted the grace of Gcd, and disregarded the gentler 
discipline of love. This was no new method on God's part. 
He makes his providence as well as his word the minister of 
grace, adapting it with infinite skill to the moral states of men. 
How many are now groaning under the strokes of his rod 
because they would not yield to the drawings of his Spirit ! 
Mr. H. never doubted in after life whether the loss of his child 
was not a divine method of deepening in his heart the convic- 
tion that God had taken him in hand to save him, if grace and 
providence might do it, from the perdition to which his steps 
were so rapidly tending. 

There is much in this history of God's providence and grace 
to remind one of those sentiments, which are as true as they 
are poetic: 

"Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, 

But trust him for his grace ; 
Behind a frowning providence 

He hides a smiling face. 
His purposes will ripen fast, 

Unfolding every hour ; 
The bud may have a hitter taste, 

But sweet will he the flower." 

When the first notes of grief yielded to the necessary prepar- 
ations for laying out the dead, Mr. H. retired to a wood near 
at hand. A dyke, whose well-trodden summit formed a pleas- 
ant pathway along the edge of the wood, afforded him a con- 
venient and secluded walk. Here he moved backward and 
forward, sometimes giving loud vent to his emotions, and at 
others silently reproaching himself for having provoked this 



NEW BIRTH. 



45 



severe chastisement of Providence. "And now," said he, 
" what have I left ? Should God come down again in his 
wrath, what could he lay his hand upon ? " The query hurried 
his thoughts to the fireside. " Ah," said he to himself, "heaven 
can strike one heavier blow, and it will come unless I turn. 
There is no way of escape but by repentance. God has now 
only plucked the fruit, or rather, has broken off a twig. If he 
comes again in judgment he will cut down the tree." For full 
two hours he ruminated thus, and then seriously set himself to 
the task of forming a purpose to seek God. 

But he encountered many obstacles. First it was suggested, 
" Is there such a thing as experimental religion ? What evi- 
dence can convince me ? The lives of its confessors are often 
unsatisfactory. Its comforts do not seem to check their pursuit 
of the world. They suffer chastisement like other men, and 
their outward crosses harass their minds. They feel sorrow, 
and often murmur under it." But then it occurred to him that 
there is a difference. " If many professors are carnal, a few are 
heavenly minded. If some pursue the world, others are con- 
tented without it. If many murmur under chastisement, a few 
are meekly submissive to a very hard lot. If some live careless 
of the duties and neglectful of the privileges of religion, others 
die with composure, and in expiring whispers ascribe praise to 
Jesus. Here are two classes of witnesses. If I must reject one 
as unworthy, can that affect the competency or credibility of 
the other class ? Certainly not. And there are enough of 
these to prove what they affirm." 

But " there are disputes among Christians themselves. They 
cannot, as witnesses, agree together. The sharp conflicts of 
centuries have destroyed the force of their testimony." In 
reply to this objection it occurred to him that " these disputes 
are mostly concerning doctrines. They regard the speculations 
of theology, not the experience of the heart. In this last partic- 
ular almost all who know Christ experimentally seem to be 
agreed. If they do not see, they feel alike. This is all that 
the case demands." 

But as to doctrinal disputes, "suppose they are right who 
affirm the unconditional election and reprobation of different 



46 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



portions of our race ; then what good will it do to seek religion ? 
Must I trouble myself to do what God's decree secures at all 
events, or to de what his purpose is sure to make me ? " Thus 
did one difficulty succeed another in his mind, till, weary of 
such debates, Mr. H. said: "I know not how these things may 
be ; but one thing I know — I am miserable, and no earthly good 
can bring relief. Some say, seek religion. I will try. Maybe 
there is no such thing ; but possibly there is. Perhaps God's 
decree will prevent my obtaining it ; but possibly it will not. 
How can I know until I try ? I'll commence now, and if I find 
religion a reality, it will be all clear gain. If I find nothing, I 
shall be just where I am — no worse if no better oft As there is 
nothing, therefore, to lose, and may be something to gain, I will 
make the experiment and abide the result." 

Fortifying his mind in this purpose, he turned to what he 
considered the regular business of seeking religion. He went at 
it as to a "job" which was to be accomplished by daily toil, 
and which was to bring to his heart and conscience its slowly 
ripening results. He thought to get better by degrees, until the 
sense of guilt should be lost in the growing innocency of his 
life, and his vicious tempers should be displaced by the forming 
habits of virtue. In executing this enterprise he began to pray 
and read the Scriptures morning, noon, and night, devoting 
from twenty to forty minutes at each period to these services. 
The remainder of the day was spent seriously, but in no wise 
religiously, the intention being merely to avoid whatever might 
counteract the saving tendency of his regular devotions. 

To trace the changes of the mind in a course of legal efforts 
to attain salvation is very difficult. One reason is that it must 
be the work of memory ; the legalist is not aware at the time 
that he is aiming to be saved by works. Against this he hears 
much from the pulpit, and reads much in the Bible. He intends 
to be saved by grace ; yet, blinded by Satan, and ignorant of him- 
self, he directly " goes about to establish his own righteousness." 

Mr. H., like most others, may have speculated right, but he 
practiced wrong. He had no feeling apprehension of his real 
condition, nor of the death-like struggle by which he must enter 
in at the strait gate of faith. But his darkened understand- 



NEW BIRTH. 



47 



ing was gradually enlightened by the Spirit, and he came to 
new discoveries of his own lost state. God helped him from 
the beginning, though he knew it not. Blessed be his name, 
he helps all who are willing to receive his aid ; that is, all who 
have a lively, active willingness, manifested by crying unto him 
for succor. It matters little whether such have right or wrong 
views, or commence seeking religion in a right or wrong way ; 
Christ is their prophet, as well as priest; and when he sees a 
soul reaching after him, whether in this or that direction, he 
will have compassion. It is a part of his blessed work to in- 
struct them " who are out of the way." If one sincerely pur- 
poses to pursue life, Jesus does not withhold his aid until that 
soul has found the path. He visits it in its remotest wanderings, 
draws it from the wilderness of its errors, and guides it into the 
way of peace. In it is fulfilled that gracious promise, " Seek, 
and ye shall find." 

Though Mr. H.'s efforts to pray, as to any merit or effiacacy 
of their own, were, as Brainard says, "like paddling in the 
water," yet they were used by the Holy Spirit to convict him 
of sin, and to show him his utter helplessness. He soon came 
to see his heart in a light exceedingly repulsive ; for the more 
he affected to pray, the more violently his feelings declined the 
service, till even the form was an unendurable penance. He 
felt that there were in him no elements of devotion, that he 
could not tolerate the presence of God, and could not long sup- 
port even the eifort to commune with him. Then came the 
law with its incorrigible precept : " Thou shalt love the Lord 
thy God with all thy heart." Mr. H. saw that the " command- 
ment was holy, just, and good;" but he more and more despaired 
of obeying it. 

For three weeks he continued, much to the disquiet of his 
conscience, to perform the ceremonies of closet worship ; but 
he found that he "was nothing bettered, and rather grew 
worse." It seemed to him that each successive day increased 
the hardness of his heart. Sometimes, greatly discouraged, he 
forbore the attempt to pray, and indeed began to feel a strong 
disposition to give up all, and to conclude that there was no 
such thing as experimental religion. 



48 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



In this state of mind he was sitting one day with Mrs. H., 
engaged in nothing very serious or profitable, when Mrs. M. 
came in, and seating herself near to both of them, remained a 
few minutes silent, but evidently anxious and unhappy. 

" What is the matter, Mrs. M. ? " said Mr. H. 

Mrs. M. I am concerned, sir, at your condition. 

H. Why so, Mrs. M. ? I am trying to seek the kingdom of 
God. 

Mrs. M. Yes, Mr. H., so I understand ; but, from all I can 
learn, you seek in such a manner that you will never obtain, 
H. Please explain. 

Mrs. M. You spend half an hour or so, two or three times a 
day, in your closet. The rest of your time, if I understand, you 
give up to miscellaneous reading and conversation. Now, sir, 
can a man accomplish any great worldly thing by devoting to 
it an hour or so each day ? Suppose you had studied the lan- 
guages an hour a day in your boyhood, or had read law at that 
rate when a student, what would have been the result ? 

H. Why, Mrs. M., you know we are not to be saved by works. 
Would you have me drudge all day at my devotions ? for, un- 
willing as I am to confess, or even to know it, I find that all my 
efforts to pray are mere drudgery, affording me neither peace 
nor hope. 

Mrs. M. I fear, Mr. H., that you labor under a great mistake. 
You say we are not saved by works. Now this is both true and 
false. It is false in the sense just now suggested by you, and it 
is false in any sense which lends the least countenance to inac- 
tion or supineness in the pursuit of religion. 

H. Please, then, Mrs. M., to tell me how it is true. 

Mrs. M. It is true only in the sense of denying merit to our 
works. We are saved by works not at all meritorious in the 
sight of God. This is the true relation of works to human sal- 
vation, if I can understand the Bible. 

H. This is a new idea. I suppose, then, I am to work just as 
though I could purchase salvation. 

Mrs. M. Yes, and feel just as though your works were of 
themselves mere sin and death ; for this is true. 

H. Then you would have me read and pray more, 



NEW BIRTH. 



49 



Mrs. M. Yes; I would say, do nothing else. Throw away 
everything: law books, newspapers, history, poetry, conversa- 
tion, and, if possible, the very memory of your afflictions — forget 
your child and her grave in the all-absorbing efforts of your soul 
to find Jesus. In a word, no longer seek, but strive to enter in 
at the strait gate. O, sir, it is rather insulting than honoring 
God to profess an intention to serve him, and then show so 
little regard for his favor as to pursue it with less zeal and 
diligence than you would the veriest trifle on earth. 

H. Mrs. M., I am convinced of my error; I have insulted 
God, and by my conduct shown small regard for his favor. 
But I will do differently ; I will from this moment do nothing 
but implore his mercy. 

Mrs. M. wept during this conversation, and Mrs. H. avouched 
a cordial concurrence in all she had said. From that hour 
Mr. H. threw aside everything else, and gave himself wholly to 
the pursuit of religion. For two days he was much of the time 
alone upon his knees ; but, alas 1 it grew darker and darker. A 
thick mist seemed to be gathering around him, rendering the 
objects of moral vision less and less distinct, while hope grew 
fainter and fainter, till he seemed to be entering the regions of 
despair. All this time Mr. H. had no special fears of hell, and 
no painful conviction of guilt. His mind did not dwell on his 
past life. He wondered at this. He looked for no other con- 
viction than that of past sinfulness ; and when he was unable 
to realize how wicked he had been, and felt no dread of hell to 
take hold of him, he of course judged himself to be stupid, and 
waited and prayed for conviction. Yet he afterward perceived 
that all this time he was deeply convicted ; for though convic- 
tion is of sin, yet it may be of its defilement rather than of its 
guilt, and as dwelling now in the heart rather than, as hereto- 
fore, acted in the life. Thus it was with Mr. H. He had a 
painful sense of alienation from God in his affections. He felt 
his obligations to love God, and was conscious that he did not, 
nay, could not love him ; that all the moral relishes of his soul 
averted from the Creator and cleaved to the creature. Prayer 
did not improve his heart and draw him nearer to God, but 
served rather to stir up his enmity, and repel him from his 

3 



50 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Maker. As tasting an unpalatable dish serves to nauseate and 
render the article more disgusting, so every struggle to approach 
near to God revealed more clearly his disrelish of such com- 
munion. 

Can there be a worse condition — a spirit with God's likeness, 
formed to inhabit God's eternity, made to be blessed in God's 
society, and constitutionally incapacitated for all other happi- 
ness, so blasted by the power of sin as to have lost the fruition 
of God past human recovery ? Yes, painful as is such a state, 
(and how vain all attempts to describe it !) there is a worse 
condition, namely, tnat which embraces all this evil, and super- 
adds the close of probation and the fall horrors of retributive 
wrath. From such a consummation of evils, blessed Jesus, 
deliver us ! 

For months after it passed by, the fifth day of October, 1828, 
was called in some places " the rainy Sabbath." One length- 
ened shower lasted from morning till night. But for far 
weightier reasons it was to Mr. H. the day of days. He rose in 
the morning with a heavy heart, and hastily adopting his 
apparel for the day, turned aside to prayer. No sooner was 
he upon his knees than the heavens were as brass, his own 
heart like adamant, and his tongue for very shame refused to 
utter words which he was aware must be not a feigned but an 
unfeeling expression of desires which he had not, but only 
sought to have. After bowing in silence for some minutes he 
arose, changed his posture, kneeled again, felt the same stu- 
pidity, and still rose without uttering a word, or indulging 
even a whisper. "With little variation he spent the morning in 
these silent kneelings and risings. He was unable to speak the 
words of prayer because he was sensible that such words would 
not be the outflow of desire. When upon his feet it seemed to 
him that by moving to such or such a place his heart would 
melt, and he should feel devotion ; but on kneeling in that 
spot the same stupidity and hardness prevented him. 

There was to be preaching within a mile, and the carriage 
being at the door, Mr. H. requested his friends to accompany 
Mrs. H. in it to church. He chose his way on foot, with an 
umbrella over his head, and entering a grove of thick trees 



NEW BIRTH. 



51 



which skirted tbe roadside, lie repeated his efforts to approach 
God in prayer. The rain was falling almost in torrents ; the 
hollow places of the surface were full of water, and only on the 
elevated spots of earth could he kneel without partial submer- 
sion. But he bowed down before God first in one place, then 
in another, saying nothing, and feeling more and more at each 
failing effort that he was full of sin, and the lost victim of 
spiritual death, "without God, and without hope." These un- 
successful attempts at devotion detained him in the grove till 
he was quite wet, and until he was sure that the public services 
must have commenced. More hopeless than ever he walked on 
toward the sanctuary. The congregation was small, and the 
preacher, fully informed as to Mr. H.'s state, and deeply inter- 
ested in its results, ministered especially to him. He preached 
Christ crucified in a plain and practical manner, which seemed 
to touch every heart but one. He for whom it was most espe- 
cially intended felt nothing of its force and power. His heart, 
like clay in the sunshine, grew harder and harder under the 
outbearnings of the cross. The sermon was closed, and while 
the congregation kneeled in prayer, Mr, H. stood by a window 
gazing at the clouds as they moved in heavy masses toward the 
northwest. Just then a flock of birds sped along their aerial 
pathway, sporting on the wing, and careless of the future. 
Quick as thought Mr. H. mentally exclaimed, "Would to God 
I were one of your company, to meet death and its everlasting 
oblivion before nightfall at the hand of the fowler ! " 

The disease of the soul was forming a crisis, for with a 
despair not absolute but fearful, there was just then inter- 
mingling an obstinacy of spirit which draws the soul nearest to 
perdition, and which must be met by sudden relief, or must 
terminate in the settled purpose of impenitency. Nothing 
shows such spiteful opposition to God as the indurating power 
of the cross. It indicates the last and ripest stage of enmity to 
Jehovah. 

Mr. H. returned as he went, pausing in the grove, and linger- 
ing under the broad expanse of almost every tree which seemed 
to afford the promise of a shelter, from the storm. Long after 
the family were at home he reached the rear of the house, and 



52 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



entering by a back door, softly stole up into tbe garret, and 
there gave himself to the saddest, nay, the most agonizing 
reflections of his whole life. 

" And this," said he to himself, " is seeking religion. And 
this agony, which no demon could endure, I am to receive as 
an illustration of God's mercy. He says, ' Seek, and ye shall 
find.' Indeed I have found — what? A heart incapable of 
loving God, fierce in its enmity toward my Maker, uncontrolla- 
ble by any power of mine, and equally so by any aid vouch- 
safed me from above." Then it occurred to him, " If any man 
love not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be anathema maranathaP 
"Well," he exclaimed, "I love not Christ. My heart is as 
empty of all such love as a deserted, falling mansion is of 
elegant furniture. I cannot love him. And I shall be cursed, 
nay, am cursed; cursed by the Father, cursed by the Son, 
cursed by the Holy Ghost ! And is there a worse hell ? " 

As he uttered the closing sentences in an agitated frame he 
raised his voice, and was overheard by Mrs. H., who hurried up 
stairs and interrupted his painful soliloquy. Wet and cold as 
he was, he followed her, with some hesitation, to the chamber, 
and seated himself by the fire. In a few minutes Mrs. M. 
announced that the preacher was below, and was about to have 
prayers, inviting Mr. and Mrs. H. to join in the devotions. 
" Excuse me," said Mr. H. ; " to me prayer is useless, and I must 
give it up." Mrs. M. burst into a flood of tears and retired. 
" Husband," said Mrs. H., " let us go down." Partly relenting, 
and moved by his wife's entreaties, he yielded and joined the 
praying circle. Probably for three weeks he had not knelt in 
a more careless frame. Indeed he thought he had determined 
to relinquish this " vain struggle." He might not have done 
so, for such were his views of himself and of the wickedness of 
his heart, that possibly his conscience would have refused repose 
in spite of his resolve. But this result was waived by an unex- 
pected occurrence. In the progress of the prayer, under some 
common devotional expressions, a softening influence suddenly 
touched his heart. It was not overwhelming, but gentle — a 
small river let in the desert of his heart — a distilling dew on 
the parched waste of its affections. Yet it was refreshing. 



NEW BIRTH. 



53 



Hope in an instant recovered its lost dominion, and Mr. H. said 
within himself, " Perhaps I am not lost. I will go to meeting 
once more, and make another effort to find a reconciled God." 
He accordingly went that very evening to a prayer-meeting. 
It was a* small assembly of twelve praying souls, met to plead 
in Christ's name. The minister was there, and having given 
out a hymn, he said, "If our afflicted friends," meaning Mr. 
and Mrs. H., " will come forward and kneel down we will all 
pray for them." It was the first proposition that had been 
made of the kind, and probably Mr. H. had never until then 
been in a state of mind to act upon it ; but the words were no 
sooner uttered than he hastened forward and fell upon his 
knees. 

Earnest pleading in his behalf now arose from as many 
believing hearts as were in that little assembly. The voluntary 
outward humiliation of Mr. H. as a " mourner " greatly moved 
them. Their strong desires in his behalf were umestrainable, 
and in a few minutes every tongue seemed to be employed in 
loud invocations for God's mercy upon him. The tears of the 
writer now flow unchecked as he enters on the description of a 
scene which, though in its prominent features it is not rare 
among consistent Methodists, yet is so touching to the heart of 
piety that its frequent recurrence cannot rob it of its interest. 
As the songs and beatitudes of heaven are ever new, so shall 
the tears and the groans, the supplications, conversions, and 
shouts of these altar scenes never become tame or unaffecting 
to those whose eyes have been opened to discern their deep 
import. 

Such a scene a few weeks previous would have been un- 
speakably disgusting to Mr. H. He would have discerned in 
it the tokens of a frenzy as irrational and degrading as the 
wildest excesses of bacchanalian indulgence. Instead of which 
he now felt like turning to one and another, and beseeching 
each in turn to plead more earnestly. 

Soon after this outburst of feeling occurred Mr. H. began to 
say in an undertone, " God be merciful to me a sinner ! " He 
repeated it continually, but with great deliberation, feeling in 
some degree and increasingly as he reiterated it the pressure of 



54 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

truth upon his conscience, and its quickenings in his heart. In 
a word, he felt as he never had before, and hope produced a 
struggle in him. He thought it possible that God would save 
Mm, and that the finger of his power was now gently rousing 
his soul to life. 

Amid these incipient struggles he was most unexpectedly- 
disquieted by a change in his bodily state. He began to feel a 
sense of numbness, first in his feet. It gradually spread upward 
till his limbs seemed almost paralyzed. He sought in several 
ways to escape the sensation, or ihefajicy, for he could scarcely 
determine whether it were this or that. Not used to kneeling, 
he deemed that it might result from his posture, and by moving 
this way and that around the chair on which he leaned he 
hoped to recover ; but the embarrassment increased. His 
attention was now diverted from his moral to his physical 
state. " Is it possible," thought he, " that I am going to ' have 
the power ! ' " The concern or rather alarm that now arose in 
his mind checked his cry for mercy, and in a few minutes his 
numbness, his struggles, and his tenderness of spirit gave place 
to his usual obduracy, and he found himself stupid, impenitent, 
unconscious of inward contrition, and insensible of bodily 
ailment. 

And now, having lost what he coveted, as well as escaped 
what he eschewed, he felt keen regret. " Better," thought he, 
" thatT should have endured an outward than have retained 
this inward paralysis, lly body has escaped at the expense of 
the soul. I should have forgotten the former in my struggles 
for the latter." He felt assured that his mental and moral 
exercises for some minutes had been perfectly new to him, and 
that they had in them a higher promise than any former states 
of mind. He recollected that, among other reflections which 
had doubtless contributed to his present obduracy, was the 
dread that he might be prostrated by the power of the Spirit, 
and some of his ungodly acquaintances come in and gaze upon 
him. This he feared was a suggestion of the devil, or at least 
the apprehension of pride, and well calculated to grieve the 
Spirit and drive him from the heart. 

There is a quick and subtle sympathy in religion. It is 



NEW BIRTH. 



55 



spiritual, can approach all hearts, and is wont to move them in 
the same direction as the waves of the sea are moved in suc- 
cession toward or from the shore. How often in love-feast 
does the whole mass of mind remain slumbering and motion- 
less up to a given moment, and then, like forest leaves under 
the rising breeze, awake to the touches of the life-inspiring 
Spirit ? Blessed be God for the gift of the Spirit, through our 
Lord Jesus Christ. What to us were the incarnation, the 
atonement, and all the opened avenues from earth to heaven, 
without the Holy Spirit to rouse our sensualized affections and 
draw us toward our home ? 

How aptly is a change of heart denominated regeneration. 
It is birth-like in many ways. It involves struggles not only in 
the convicted, but also on the part of the Church ; for it is God's 
usual method to rouse her to the most earnest efforts of faith, 
and cause her enkindled charity to flow forth in strong suppli- 
cations. The Holy Spirit moves the Church to "travail" and 
" bring forth." 

But amid these struggles there are pauses, in which both 
the Church and her infant children under their quickenings to 
newness of life, relapse into inactivity. This is seen in revivals, 
where the struggles at the altar sometimes become feeble, and 
coldness like a death-power comes over the warm affections of 
devotion. God knows the reason, but gives us no account of it. 
Still, we know that he orders all things well in the kingdoms 
of both nature and grace, between which we may often discern 
striking and instructive analogies. In the case before us it is 
so ordered that in the kingdom of nature the struggles of the 
first, and in the kingdom of grace the agonies of the second 
birth should be prolonged by mysterious delays and intermis- 
sions. It was partly in reference to this point that we spoke of 
a " quick and subtile sympathy in religion." 

Soon after Mr. H. had ceased to struggle, the same spirit of 
stupidity seemed to fall on all around him, and at last an 
awkward stillness succeeded to the many and loud prayers in 
his behalf. All, one by one, arose from their knees, and an 
hour or more passed in formal devotions, after the manner of a 
cold Methodist prayer-meeting. Mr. H. was invited to rise; 



56 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



unused as he was to kneeling, his posture was painful ; but he 
resolved to atone for his prideful apprehensions that some 
gentleman might come in, by remaining on his knees the live- 
long night, hoping thereby to recover the strong feelings which 
he had lost. A young man, now in heaven, came at length 
and kneeled by his side, and whispered, 

" Mr. H., I fear you are not anxious enough for salvation." 

" No, sir," said Mr. H., " I am not anxious at all." 

" I feel," said the other, " that if you do not embrace religion 
to-night, you never will." 

" So I think," said Mr. H. 

The young man paused a little, and then exclaimed, " I can- 
not give you up ! " and turning aside commenced praying 
aloud. He had uttered but a few words when a divine influ- 
ence was shed upon the little assembly. Again all fell upon 
their knees, and in a few minutes every voice was once more 
pleading in prayer. Mr. II. felt the descending power. For a 
minute or two he retained his kneeling posture, but his desires 
for salvation grew more and more vehement, till at last, forget- 
ful of everything but the wants of a soul making its last effort 
for eternal life, with one unrestrained outcry for mercy, he threw 
himself on the floor. Mrs. H. flew to him in great consterna- 
tion, and others gathered round, ready, if there were need or 
opportunity, to do what might be done to soften the features 
of a scene so bold and rugged. But God was also there, and 
Mr. H. had naught to do with any other. He did not know, 
until afterward informed, that his wife had hung over him so 
long in silent agony. 

The witnesses say that for one hour and a half Mr. H. con- 
tinued in this prone posture. Such was the violence of his 
struggle for salvation that his hands and arms were in constant 
agitation, reaching up with violent efforts, as if to grasp some- 
thing above him and beyond his reach. His states of mind 
during the struggle were as follows : Always till that evening, 
when he attempted to pray, it seemed to him that no one heard 
him. He felt like an atheist, though he thought as a believer. 
When he threw himself on the floor the movement was induced 
by the sudden consciousness that Jesus was near and listening to 



NEW BIRTH. 



57 



his prayer. As lie fell backward, with his face toward the 
ceiling, Christ seemed to be just above him. He felt that he 
could almost reach him, and the unwearied motion of his 
hands was sympathetic with the struggle of the heart to lay 
hold on him. The time that he lay prostrate in this manner 
was spent, with two or three momentary interruptions, in ex- 
claiming, with the utmost effort of his voice, " Come, Jesus ! " 
or, ' " Help me, Jesus ! " without any important variations of 
language. The interruptions were as follows : In the midst of 
his struggles it came suddenly to his mind, as though whis- 
pered by the lips of the Saviour, " Will you now give up your 
child ? " and instantly his whole heart, with a new, strange out- 
flow of consenting emotions, said, " Yes, yes ; I do, I do ! " After 
a little time it was again suggested, " Can you now forgive your 
enemies ? " and in the same full, hearty manner he exclaimed, 
" Yes ! " feeling at the moment that he would fain have all his 
worst enemies in his arms at once that he might press them to 
his bosom. After a little it was again suggested, " Can you 
now give up yourself and all you have forever to Christ, to do 
with you and with it as shall please him ? " and again, with an 
unspeakable fullness and freeness, his heart replied, "Yes, all 
— all — I give up all forever ! " 

The experienced Christian will doubtless perceive that this 
was, with Mr. H., the beginning of a new and heavenly life. 
Such a yielding up of all things is never accomplished by the 
unregenerate heart. Just then, when he felt so full and spon- 
taneous a flowing of his affections in the unaccustomed channels 
of resignation and charity, the regenerating work was wrought. 
But Mr. H. knew it not. He never once suspected it. He 
returned again, therefore, from these specific exercises of sub- 
mission, self-consecration, and charity to pleading with Jesus. 
This he continued until, his strength gradually failing, he could 
no more than whisper, and at last, from physical exhaustion, 
became silent. 

There is a difference. Conversion is one thing, and its evi- 
dence, or the inward witness of it, another. They are not 
necessarily simultaneous. Mr. H., now regenerated by the 
Holy Ghost, thought his quiet state one of perfect stupidity. 

3* 



58 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLN T E. 



He said to himself, " 'Tis done ! This was my last effort, and 
Christ, who came so near, has left me forever ! " " How do 
you feel now ? " said a venerable saint, since glorified. " Stupid ! 
stupid ! " said Mr. H. " Ah ! " said she, " you'll feel better to- 
morrow." She understood better than the new-born disciple 
what were the symptoms of commencing life. 

Mr. H. had returned to his lodgings. It was late; but he 
said to his wife before they retired, " Let us once more try to 
pray." So soon as they had kneeled down a gentle melting 
came upon his soul, which quite took him by surprise. " Pos- 
sibly," thought he, " all is not lost. There may be hope that 
I shall yet obtain religion." Musing in this wise he lay down 
and slept. 

In the morning he arose without the sense of any peculiar 
tenderness, and as soon as he was dressed, desired Mrs. H. to 
leave him alone. As she retired he turned toward the table 
on which the Bible lay. The sight of this book caused his 
heart to throb with unexpected emotions. He stepped quickly 
across the room, opened the book, and his eye first lighted on 
these words, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in 
God, believe also in me." John xiv, 1. His whole soul seemed 
in a moment absorbed in meditating the force of this language. 
"Why am I troubled?" thought he. "Does not Jesus utter 
these words ? Why did I not think and feel that it was his 
own language addressed to a wretch like me ? Yes, I believe 
in God, the Creator, the Judge, the Avenger, and my heart is 
' troubled.' Why have I not believed also in Jesus, the Saviour, 
the bearer of my sin and punishment, and thus eased my 
troubled conscience ? " While he thus mused on the words of 
his Lord, they seemed to go clown into the very depths of his 
soul, and spread through all its parched wastes. 

He laid the Bible open on the side of the bed, dropped on 
his knees, still pondering the words which had so deeply 
affected him. In the midst of these exercises it occurred to 
him, "pray." Raising his eyes upward to do so, Jesus again 
seemed, as on the previous evening, to be just above him. He 
saw nothing at this or any other time, but was conscious rather 
of the presence of the Saviour. His first words were, "Jesus, 



NEW BIRTH. 



59 



I cannot let thee go ! " These he deliberately repeated ; and in 
the mean time a struggle within Corresponded with these out- 
ward expressions. He was like a man who, fallen in deep 
waters, seizes with thumb and finger the edge of a plank. 
Afraid to let go, in order to attempt a firmer hold, and unable 
without great effort to retain his present grasp, he can do no 
more than exert all his energies to hold on. So with Mr. H. 
A little faith had grasped the Saviour slightly, as it were, by 
the hem of the garment, and the struggle was to retain that 
slender hold. Each repetition of the words seemed to increase 
his confidence and bring the Saviour nearer to him, until at 
last he changed the former language for this: "Jesus, thou 
canst not cast me off!" This he also repeated slowly, feeling 
as he did so that Christ approached nearer and nearer, until at 
last he seemed to come down into his soul, and in all the full- 
ness of his presence take up his abode within. All was now 
changed. Mr. H. exclaimed, " O Jesus, thou art within me ! " 
and that Scripture was borne to his heart, " Christ in you the 
hope of glory." He continued but a moment on his knees, for 
a divine power seemed to raise him to his feet. He hurried 
this way and that through the chamber, looking at his hands, 
and pressing his own flesh as though he would be convinced 
that he was himself and not another. Jesus had so fully 
possessed his whole soul that he seemed to have lost his own 
being, and to have become merged or swallowed up in Christ. 
He was born agaiu. He knew it. As the living are conscious 
of life, so Mr. H. was consious that he had been raised to new- 
ness of life. O how he exulted in the fullness of this life ! 
"What weeks and months of holy rapture he enjoyed, and how 
replete with "joy unspeakable and full of glory" were his days 
and nights as he still pressed onward to the higher beatific 
state ! 

Some circumstances in the narrative of Mr. H.'s conversion 
may be profitably reconsidered. He was foolishly speculating 
when the Holy Spirit first visited his heart. This may be the 
wherefore that the progress of his soul through the "strait 
gate " was marked by some peculiar exercises. He had often 
made specific efforts to resign his child, and to forgive his 



60 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



enemies, with an utter inability to accomplish either. The 
reader has seen that a specific impression was made upon his 
mind in the midst of his. agonies in regard to those particular 
points. He had been exceedingly tried in regard to that faith 
which justifies the soul. He could not conceive how this " saving 
faith," as it was called, differed from the speculative admission 
of the truth of Christianity. He was sorely puzzled at the dis- 
tinction made between them. He was in a state of mind on 
this point which would at the time have rendered the views of 
Mr. Campbell grateful to his mental appetite. But his strug- 
gles at the bedside on the morning of his deliverance perfectly 
satisfied him that faith embraces the affections ; that " with the 
heart man believeth unto righteousness." 

Mr. H. had wondered also, as well he might, how the Chris- 
tian could distinguish the impulses of nature from those of grace ; 
but his experience satisfied him on this point. To a skeptical 
educated friend, who called on him a few days after his conver- 
sion, and suggested this very difficulty, he said : " Suppose you 
were to visit a young man who had never seen the sun, but in 
the confinement of a dungeon, by lamp-light, had been educated 
and instructed in natural philosophy, and he should ask you 
to explain to him the difference between solar light and candle 
light ; could you do it ? " 

After a considerable pause he answered " No." 

" So," said Mr. H., " I cannot explain to you the difference 
between natural and religious sensibility, but I can fed the 
difference." 

Another difiiculty with Mr. H., akin to this last, was, how 
can the Christian know he is converted ? And this was a more 
serious question, from the fact that he had once honestly hoped 
that he was pious, and found out that it was wholly a mistake. 
Besides which, many professing Christians, and whole denom- 
inations of them, deny that it is our privilege to be assured of 
our conversion, and that we must be satisfied with probability, 
or, in the language of their creed, with a hope ; whereas the 
Methodists teach that it is our privilege and duty to feel assured 
that our sins are pardoned. Mr. H. now understood that the 
convert may " know the things which are freely given to him 



NEW BIRTH. 



61 



of God." He felt in himself that lie possessed a new life, and 
could no more doubt it than he could his own physical being. 
As he knew that he had five senses, that he had hands, feet, 
memory, and imagination — in a word, as he knew with the 
utmost certainty that he was a liying man and not a dead car- 
cass — even so, by spiritual consciousness, or by what the apostle 
calls the " Spirit bearing witness," he knew that his soul was 
raised up from its death in trespasses and in sins to a new and 
glorious life. 

Of one other thing he was convinced, namely, that many 
make a profession of religion who know nothing of its power. 
Such are they who, taught by the erring, look not for certainty 
in experience, and of course rest in uncertainty. Such are they 
who take the fifty-first psalm to be expressive of Christian ex- 
perience, and of course mistake conviction of sin for a state of 
justification. Such persons should consider that there are 
peace and joy in religion, and that to mourn over sin is not 
the only habit of a truly regenerated heart. He had often 
heard the pious speak extravagantly, as he supposed, of the 
superior comforts of religion. He had felt a strong prejudice 
against such language as this: "I have enjoyed more happiness 
in one day since I was converted than in my whole life before." 
This he thought impossible ; he supposed that the speaker was 
merely zealous for his party, and anxious to vindicate the wis- 
dom of his own conduct, and therefore set.himself to exaggerate 
the good which he had chosen. Now he found, to his surprise 
and delight, that such language was so far from all extrava- 
gance, that it fell quite below the truth, and that in reference 
to all such accounts of religious enjoyment he could say, "the 
half was not told me." His own mind could not by any effort 
invent a method to express his own inward comforts. He was 
like a youth brought up in the meanest, filthiest cottage, and 
familiar only with the rudest modes of vulgar life, suddenly 
placed upon a throne, and made to gaze on all the unwonted 
splendors of a palace. Day after day new conceptions of the 
excellence and the prerogatives of his present state, of his new 
birth-right privileges in fruition and in prospect, ravished and 
almost overwhelmed him. One instance of this may be noticed. 



62 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



For two days after his conversion his mind was so occupied 
with present joys, that he had never looked forward and con- 
sidered the prospect of future glory. He was passing from the 
house into the yard, when it occurred to him that his overflow- 
ing peace and rapture were not all the good religion proffered 
him ; that it had not only the promise of the life that now is, 
but of that also which is to come. This was, at the moment, a 
clear addition to his gains. He burst out in halleluiahs at the 
sudden recollection that, in addition to the heaven now within 
him, and which seemed more than he well knew what to do 
with, there was another more glorious and eternal heaven be- 
yond him. We mention this circumstance for this among other 
reasons : it shows that religious joy is not constituted of mere 
hope. It has present as well as future beatitudes. 

Lastly, Mr. H. was convinced that to know anything satisfac- 
torily of religion we must experience it. To speculate upon it 
is like laboring to ascertain the flavor of fruit without tasting 
it. If all the infidels in the world would consider the doctrines 
of religion, especially that of the new birth, as the diagram, 
and experience as the demonstration, they might soon " know 
of the doctrine, whether it be of heaven or of men." They are, 
therefore, inexcusable. Infidelity is willful, because a sure test 
is proposed which the skeptic will not employ to satisfy himself 
of the falseness or the reality of religion. If an apple were pre- 
sented him with the assertion that it is sweet, how should he 
determine whether it is so or not? By tasting it. Let him 
treat religion thus. A and B are chemists; A meets B and 
informs him that he has experimented thus and thus, with such 
and such results; B is incredulous. A says to him, "Do not 
contradict me. I ask you to take nothing upon trust. Go to 
your laboratory, and test the matter according to the usages 
and rules of our science. But do not allege theory against 
experiment." So Christians may challenge their adversaries. 



HIS EAKLY MPNISTKY. 



63 



V 

CHAPTER HI. 

HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 

When first converted, Mr. Hamline appears to have had no 
thought of preaching; but at the first meeting he attended 
after his conversion, at the close of the sermon the minister 
requested him to exhort. He arose and related the history of 
the " Prodigal Son," bringing the whole scene in vision before 
the audience, until they seemed to behold the poor, tattered, 
forlorn wretch tremblingly approaching the paternal mansion, 
and the venerable father first espying him in the distance, and 
watching with intense interest his approach, till at length, rec- 
ognizing his returning son, he ran to meet and embrace him. 
He then said, " T]iat prodigal son is before you in the person 
of the speaker. I am that prodigal ; I have returned to my 
Father's house. For me the fatted calf has been killed, and on 
me the best robe has been put," etc. The affecting manner in 
which he presented his conversion told On the hearts of the 
hearers, and a number were converted that night. 

At the first love-feast he attended, the presiding elder sat 
down, after opening the meeting, saying, "Let the man most 
deeply indebted to grace be first to rise and speak for Christ." 
Mr. H. was instantly on his feet, exclaiming, " I am that mam" 
As he went on speaking, a sister, whose husband had been 
defeated in a suit in which Mr. H. was the lawyer for the pros- 
ecution, and who had on that account been very bitterly preju- 
diced against him, asked Mrs. M., who sat next her, 

"Who is that?" 

" Why, it is the lawyer of whom you have said, ' he cannot be 
converted unless he makes restitution to my husband.' " 

" Well, I believe he is converted." And a little time after 
she exclaimed, " Bless the Lord ! he is converted." 

A license to exhort was soon handed him, and shortly after 



64 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



a license to preach ; both unsought and unexpected. When 
first invited by the presiding elder to go out as assistant preacher 
on circuits, filling vacancies, etc., he had no intention of entering 
a conference ; but, being in easy circumstances, he desired to 
attend protracted meetings and preach as occasion called, and 
just live and die a humble, happy, retired Christian. Nor is it 
believed that the preachers generally who knew him supposed 
he would make a useful itinerant minister, all his habits having 
been unsuited to such a life. But he proved himself more than 
faithful in every position to which he was assigned ; and after 
two or three years of traveling under the presiding elder, was 
induced to join the Ohio Annual Conference. It is believed 
that during his entire ministry he never lost an appointment in 
consequence of bad weather, unless when streams were utterly 
impassable; nor did he ever shrink from the discomforts of 
itinerant life when the circuits were large, taking him many 
miles from home — a most comfortable home — detaining him 
several weeks at a time, lodging him in cold and comfortless 
log-cabins, and exposing him to various ^hardships, such as 
were inseparable from the life of a faithful Methodist itinerant 
preacher in those days in a country comparatively new. Nor 
did he ever refuse to preach because few could attend. 

On one occasion he reached an appointment through a snow- 
storm so severe that but three men attended, and to these and 
the family (it was a week evening appointment in a private 
house) he preached, he said, as earnestly as though he had 
had a large congregation. As a result, one at least of the men 
attending was awakened. At another time his appointment 
was fifteen miles distant, much of the way on the bank. of a 
large stream, which had been so swollen as to overflow its 
banks and the road which he was to travel. In this state it 
had frozen, and then suddenly fallen, leaving the shelving ice 
jutting over the road. Friends remonstrated against his at- 
tempting to reach the appointment, but he resolved to make 
the effort. His horse, high-spirited and active, but well 
broken and docile, had been "sharp-shod," and he set out. 
He was compelled to walk much of the way, and lead his 
horse on the ice, often holding to the fences to maintain his 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



65 



standing. There appears to have been no house at which he 
could stop for refreshment or rest, and he toiled on till just 
night, when he reached a bridge, all the planks of which had 
been swept away. Shelving ice was cleaving to the sleepers on 
both sides, the banks were almost perpendicular, and the 
stream impassable except by crossing this fragment of a bridge. 
Having confidence in the sagacity of his horse, and hoping that 
possibly the ice would not fall till he had reached the opposite 
shore, he solemnly committed himself to the care of God, and 
started to lead the horse across one of the sleepers. He was 
certain that should the ice give way the horse would take 
fright and spring, in which case only providential interposition 
could j>reserve him. When almost at the other shore the ice 
fell with a loud crash. He threw himself to the shore, and the 
horse sprang quite over him, his corked hoof striking as near 
as he could ascertain within one inch of his head. 

At dusk he reached a large stream, which was to be crossed 
by ferry. Weary and exhausted, but grateful for the preserva- 
tion of his life, he was detained a long time calling for the 
ferryman. At length, however, he was taken over, and found 
a resting-place. This exertion came near costing him his" life. 
He preached but once after this in many weeks, and that 
sermon was delivered sitting in his chair. His hardships and 
exposures may not have been severe in comparison with many 
of our pioneer preachers, but his ability to endure was small, 
and he suffered in proportion. 

After proving himself and being proved by his brethren in 
the ministry, he was urged to join the Ohio Annual Conference, 
which he did, and continued to travel circuits, never moving 
his family till 1834, though going many miles from home, and 
detained from that beloved spot several weeks at every round 
of the circuit. One of these circuits took him about seventy 
miles from home to reach the nearest appointment, so that he 
was compelled to ride nearly all night both going and return- 
ing in order to get two or three " rest days " at home. In 
common with his colleagues he preached and led class at every 
appointment, visiting the people of his charge in the intervals 
in the six weeks 1 round. 



66 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



While on one of his circuits, many miles from home, he re- 
ceived intelligence that his child, then two or three years old, was 
very ill with scarlet fever. The news came late on Saturday 
night, and on Sunday morning a special messenger arrived to 
call him home, and all the friends advised that he go ; but to 
do so he must leave his appointment unfilled and ride all day. 
He felt in a great strait, the more so because of the feeble state 
of his wife's health, and the anxiety she must be suffering ; but 
he decided to fill his appointment, keep the Sabbath, and trust 
God with results. Starting on his horse, his method of riding 
the circuit, as soon as Sabbath was past, he hastened with all 
possible speed to his home. As he rode up to the door he 
saw the child, who had been the day before deemed almost in 
the jaws of death, playing at the window. He had recovered 
quite beyond all human expectation, and the father felt that God 
had smiled on his self-denying obedience. Certainly no one 
who knew Mr. H. would for a moment question his parental 
tenderness, or doubt that his mental struggle between affection 
and duty had been great. 

The following letters will portray his pious solicitudes for 
loved ones at home, written about this time : 

" My dear Eliza, — I shall devote a few of my restless mo- 
ments this evening to you. You know that we are to die, and 
whether we shall pay the debt of nature with a full warning 
of what is about to come upon us we know not. Should I die 
without your presence, and without the privilege of conversing 
with you, I pray you, as with my dying breath, to be thoroughly 
convinced of the following truths, namely : 

" That there is a God consisting of three persons, the Father, 
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That God is omnipotent, om- 
niscient, and omnipresent, holy, just, and merciful; that the 
Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are a revelation 
from God; that Christ has made a vicarious atonement for sin; 
that man is depraved ; that our only hope is through faith in 
Christ's name ; that man is immortal, and accountable for his 
actions and feelings ; that sin unrepented of will destroy the 
soul ; that the misery of the wicked will be eternal ; that im- 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



67 



penitence is the sinner's fault ; and that the finally impenitent 
destroy themselves. 

" These truths, my dear Eliza, embrace all the pillars of the 
Christian's faith, and contain more sound sense and philosophi- 
cal wisdom than all the aphorisms of all the great men of 
earth. Let them enter your heart and communicate their 
spirit to your very soul, and they will exalt you above all the 
Platos of old, above all the Humes of modern times. 

" You will reasonably be surprised that I have not been a 
wiser and better man, since my professions proclaim me in 
possession of this heavenly knowledge. It is difficult to redeem 
myself from the charge of inconsistency, but it is not difficult 
to screen these principles from the charge of inefficiency. 
Whenever I have felt the ruling power of these truths I have 
been in some degree both wise and good. Not that I have 
then felt myself either, but on the contrary have then been 
most deeply sensible of my failings and delinquencies; but 
now, while I revert to those periods when I have and have not 
felt the force of them, I can discern a striking contrast in 
which the former state is the light shade of the picture. Yes, 
holiness of heart and life, purity of thought and action, are the 
legitimate offspring of these principles ; and without them all 
that has the resemblance of moral virtue among men is spu- 
rious. It is factitious goodness, unsubstantial as the shadow, 
unreal as the dream of night, and wasting as the dew of 
morning. 

" Let these principles, my dear Eliza, rule your life, and you 
cannot act wrong. Forget and reject them, and you cannot 
act right. O that I had always been ruled by them ! It would 
have saved me many a pang, it would have brought me many 
a joy; it would have brightened the morn of life, and it would 
cheer the evening of my days ; it would have illuminated the 
vale of death, and glorified my soul in the world of bliss. 

" I have nothing to do but say, as you value the peace of your 
soul listen to these instructions. May God be your- father, 
may God be the husband of your soul, may he give you the 
garment of salvation, and cause you to sit in a heavenly place 
at his right hand ! Adieu, my Eliza ; my own Eliza, adieu." 



68 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



" My dear Eliza, — I trust you will not permit the affairs of 
home to make you unhappy. For my part, I think if we can 
obtain and keep our Saviour we will do well. I know not 
how our suit may terminate. I shall be satisfied and easy. 
So must you, my dear. that we might serve God and enjoy 
him ! 

"Your letter came to hand Sunday evening, November 14, 
just as I was entering the pulpit. I have been enabled to 
preach to acceptance, and I hope to some little profit. At 
Wellsburgh the prospect is flattering. I am now on my way 
round the circuit. Hope to see you a couple of days early in 
December.* 

" Keep courage, and may God bless you and the little boy. 
If we serve God he will make all plain. O may we have Christ 
in the soul ! I leave it all and commit my cause to God, and 
trust we shall yet reach heaven. I say again, my dear Eliza, 
do not grieve and mourn about our affairs. O how much worse 
off we might be ! I fear more for you than the property. I 
fear for your nerves and headache. Rest in the confidence of 
divine mercy and protection. I am resolved to commit all my 
griefs and fears into the hands of Jesus. If you will take the 
babe and his nurse, and meet me on Tuesday, the 30th of 
November, at Father M'Leod's, near Norwich, or come on 
Monday, the 29th of November, to Brother M'Leary's at Wash- 
ington, I will meet you. Good-by, dear. May you be happy 
in your God ! " 

" Graitville, December 10, 1832. 
u My deak Eliza, — I have passed around the north-east part of 
the circuit since last Sabbath, (yesterday week,) and through 
awful roads and high floods, and preached at seven appoint- 
ments. I could not reach Granville on Saturday because of 
the streams ; but on Sunday morning several gentlemen started 
with me and helped me on, so that I got into town a few 
minutes before meeting-time. Preached at eleven and half past 
one. Held a prayer-meeting at candle-light. A good congre- 
gation, and I trust a profitable Sabbath. 

* This shows how little time circuit preachers spent with their 
families in those early times. 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



69 



" This is a wet day. I hope to get out of town this evening. 
Am stopping with a Brother Barker ; a very pleasant family. 

" Two gentlemen have just called, Dr. R and Col. H., and 
spent half an hour, and are now gone. They are both reformed 
drunkards, and are very zealous in the cause of Temperance. 
Truly the Society has wrought wonders here. I trust you are 
better and more happy in the Lord your God. O how I long 
to be a Christian like Fletcher or Bramwell, and see my dear 
Eliza as devoted as Cooper or Eowe! The Lord help you! 
I have never read the Bible with so much pleasure as these two 
weeks past. I have read only to the 28th or 29th of Exodus, 
and to the 10th of Luke. But my soul has often feasted on the 
Word of Life. I am extremely happy to know that you are 
my companion in these heavenly studies. 

" I have wept like a corrected child over the story of Joseph, 
the scene at Peniel, and the giving of the Law. It makes me 
wonder to see how God once talked to men, walking with 
Enoch, calling Moses from the bush and inviting him up into 
the clouds and lightnings of the mount. O may we see 
this God in heaven, and shine before him for ever and ever! 
Amen." 

Rev. Edward D. Roe, M. D., to whom the three succeeding 
letters are addressed, was trained under the influences of the 
Protestant Episcopal Church. Dr. R. and Mr. H. were early 
friends, the former having little idea of becoming a Methodist 
minister, being engaged in mercantile pursuits previous to his 
call to the ministry. He was a man of fine feelings and accom- 
plished manners, and the early ardent friendship formed be- 
tween Mr. H. and himself, both being so similarly circumstanced 
prior to their call to leave all for the itinerancy in the Method- 
ist Episcopal Church, created a mutual bond of affection which 
was as enduring as life. Dr. Roe died in great peace in Wash- 
ington City, not many months previous to Bishop Hamline. 
The first letter is dated November 1, 1832. 

" As I am now on the border of your circuit, I will embrace 
the opportunity to drop you a few lines, which I find can easily 
be conveyed to one of your appointments. 



* 



70 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE 



" I am in good health, and feel very happy. These three days 
past have been very precious to me. The woods, the highway, 
reading, preaching, prayer, praise, have been all acceptable. 
Thanks be to God for his unspeakable goodness ! O, I could 
wear out a thousand lives in God's righteous cause ! 

" I trust you are now happy. Do you love this work the more 
as you labor in it ? Do you feel to say, after a little trial of it, 
' Let me cease to labor as I cease to live V I am anxious to 
hear how you thrive in the good cause. I have received a letter 
within three days advising that my family is well. It will be 
three weeks on Saturday since I left home. Well, we must 
forsake all for Christ's sake. So may we, and meet together 
at home, and ' go no more out for ever ! ' " 

"Zanesville, O., November 10, 1832. 
" Rev. E. D. Roe, — Your note reached me at Newark, inviting 
me in kind and brotherly terms to visit you this Saturday and 
Sunday. I am not able to do so. As I have just commenced my 
labors, I cannot consistently leave my circuit at this early stage. 
I am pleased that you enter with comfort upon your labors, 
and trust your health, patience, and zeal will wear well. I 
hardly know what to promise myself. I start to-morrow morn- 
ing to ride, preach, and, by the grace of God, seek and feel 
religion. The circuit is my home, and if I can only take my 
family along, I shall then be able to say, 'AH I require I 
have — a Saviour, a circuit, a family, a living.' Do you feel 
well ? Are you inspired with an increasing zeal for your God 
and Redeemer? Do you not repent this resignation to the 
labors of the vineyard ? When you sit and listen to the blast 
by night and watch the ' scowling cloud,' and know that you 
are to ride in ' sleety shower,' and shelter in the half-composed 
cabin, among the rude or rustic, does not your soul draw back ? 
Come on, my dear Edward, and see thy Saviour on plain and 
'mount,' and sea and land, with fishermen and 'publicans 
and sinners,' rejected by a scornful world ; in the garden before 
Pilate and Herod, and on the Cross. . . . I'll go through storms 
and tempests, floods and flames, to serve this blessed Saviour. 
If I have a wife, he had a mother. If I have gold and riches, 



§ 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



71 



he had the riches of heaven and earthy and for our sakes he 
became poor. 

" I feel better. I have half written down the enemy. Blessed 
Lord God, give me a glorious victory ! I do trust to see good 
this year. Our quarterly meeting was more than ordinary for 
Newark. Few joined. I left you a line at Strowther's. If 
possible meet me somewhere on that part of my circuit. I long 
to speak with you. 

"My poor Eliza has cares pressing upon her in my absence 
from which I would be glad to see her delivered." 

" Newark, February 12, 1833. 
" Eev. E. D. Roe, — Our meeting is glorious. We have had 
seventy mourners at a time ; fory-six have joined. I know not 
when the meeting will close ; probably next Monday. This is 
the sixth day. The town is shaken. God walks among the 
people, and they tremble. Universalism reels beneath the blows 
of truth. 

" We have now no helps from abroad ; but God helps. I must 
say I have been blessed in my own soul. I have been called 
four times to the pulpit, and my fifth appointment comes this 
evening. I pray God to send us a little help. I can say to no 
man, Come thou. But I put this prayer down for your eye: 
I pray God to send us a little help. Amen," 

On arriving at Cincinnati he writes to Dr. Roe : " We reached 
here in safety, and in time to witness a severe spread of cholera. 
It commenced on Saturday last, sudden as plague, and in twenty- 
four hours about twenty were laid low. It ceased as suddenly 
as it came. I have felt the wind of the shot, but am not ' killed 
nor wounded.' The atmospheric influence was as sensible as 
the shock of an electric battery. O how strange ! On Sunday 
the scene was mournful : the hearses dressed in imposing black, 
the processions of mourning carriages, and the mourning of the * 
bereaved, deprived almost in an hour of dear and adored friends, 
made all our hearts ache. Several of our brethren died. We 
feel, notwithstanding, calm and comfortable. We are keeping 
house with a few borrowed and purchased articles of furniture, 



72 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



without a carpet on our floors, and bed-clothes scanty enough. 
I suppose our goods are in the care of Brother Hall of your 
town. We suffer for them. Possibly, if he knew our necessi- . 
ties, he could pass them on board a keel-boat and get them to 
us. Mrs. Hamline's cough is bad, and carpets at this season are 
necessary for the sick. Could you call on Brother Hall and 
state the case, and put in one of your eloquent pleas for us, you 
shall have the poor fee of our gratitude and continued affection. 
Of these, however, you may be sure at any rate. I am much, 
very much pleased with Cincinnati It is a bold young city. 
Wesley Chapel is a sweet place to preach. I prefer it to the 
smaller churches of the city as to ease of delivery and audience. 
No stir ; all is calm, but many precious saints are here, intelli- 
gent and accomplished in all that is morally and religiously 
excellent. Pray, my dear brother, that we may meet at the 
foot of the throne." 

To the beloved companion of his early toils in the ministry, 
Rev. Jacob Young, who at the time seemed to be the subject 
of peculiar trial from mistaken views in regard to the course of 
some of his brethren, Mr. H. writes, January 3, 1835 : 

" My Excellent Beotheb, — Your letter, which I received in 
due time, was most acceptable. The account which it gave of 
your domestic afflictions excited my sympathies and anxieties 
in your behalf. ' Yes, I do feel, most exquisitely feel, 1 whatever 
affects the happiness of yourself and your worthy family. I 
know, however, that there is One 'touched with a sympathy 
divine ' in your behalf, who can and will make all things clear 
to you, and cause you to glorify him for his dispensations. 

" For some weeks my soul has had work at home. My sym- 
pathies at present seem almost incapable of diversion. We are 
afflicted. Mrs. Hamlin e has been declining ever since confer- 
• ence, and appears now to be rapidly sinking under the influence 
of hectic fever. I am watching her day and night with an 
anxiety which you can better conceive than I describe. God 
has in mercy relieved me of one mighty burden. She has never 
enjoyed a clear evidence of her acceptance with God until last 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



73 



evening. Judge with, what joy I witnessed her reception of 
Jesus by faith, and heard her proclaim, ' All is well.' ' I have 
no fears now.' ' I have no longer any will but the will of God.' 
Bless God ! eternally bless his holy name ! that he has heard 
prayer, and given her her heart's desire. Let me now be bound 
forever to Ms cross who hath saved us by his blood. My dear 
brother, I doubt not but you will give us your prayers, and 
plead with Jesus to bless us in our afflictions. I very much 
fear that we may not honor God in our sufferings. I intended 
to write to John before now ; but my time has been so occupied 
in the midst of labor and sickness that I could not do as I 
wished. I wished to send him a book, (the Life of Watson,) 
but knew of no opportunity. As a new year's gift, let me 
present him with ' Watson's Conversations,' the little work of 
Chalmers's, and my precious pocket Bible, which, though worn, 
he must not despise, for it has been a friend to me, divine in 
value and profit. I cannot see him to converse with him ; but 
by these I can communicate with him on philosophy by Chal- 
mers, on theology by Watson, and on all that is worthy in earth 
and heaven by the Word of God. O may he be wrought by the 
skill of God's performing hand into a precious son of Zion, girt 
with the armor of truth and righteousness, and prepared for 
the work of his heavenly Master ! I hope and believe, my dear 
brother, that you will be blessed in your sons, blessed in your 
work, and blessed in your person now and forever. 

"I come now to touch upon a subject which causes me em- 
barrassment. I mean the allusion in your letter to the unpleasant 
or ' sore ' feelings you experienced at conference, and the sus- 
picion you expressed that you had in your old age become an 
object of envy. I cannot on this subject say just what I desire 
you to understand, because I am not willing to have a friend 
question in his heart whether I am not a flatterer. Innocence 
comforts us when enemies maliciously accuse us; but to our 
friends we wish not only to de, but to appear innocent. I will, 
however, hazard this opinion, predicated not upon my ignorance 
of the subject, but my hnowledge of it. You are the last man in 
my opinion that the members of the Ohio Conference will ever 
think of envying on the one hand, or of despising on the other. 

4 



74 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Some men are too insignificant to be envied; they are only 
despised. Some are too respectable to be despised, too aspiring 
and overbearing to be loved, and are therefore envied and hated 
most cordially. Now, my dear brother, I think you will fully 
acquit me at least of any want of regard for your talents as a 
man, of your piety as a Christian, and of your usefulness as a 
beloved minister of our holy religion. If you do acquit me on 
these heads, I must turn to you and say, so far as I can learn, 
my brethren's hearts toward you are as mine. Little danger is 
there then that any one should interpose to disturb our friend- 
ship, (which is to me one of the greatest blessings of my whole 
life,) unless it be by convincing you that I am unworthy of your 
love, which I pray heaven avert. And now let me add, that 
the question will naturally arise upon reading this, 'If my 
brethren do regard me as you represent, what mean the occur- 
rences at conference ? ' You know, sir, that men with all their 
religion and love are not perfect. Circumstances throw them 
into confusion of mind, confusion begets forgetfulness, and for- 
getfulness brings neglect of friends, or an apparent disregard 
for them who are dearer than life. So came the occurrences of 
conference, which grieved me more than you, or at least more 
than though I had suffered them in my own person. And let 
me add, should you permit your views of this subject to exert 
any influence upon your future course, you will err. Should it 
cool your zeal for the itinerant cause or labors, or lead you into 
any other relation to the Church than that which you now sus- 
tain, you would err. But, my dear brother, God who has been 
with you will show you all, and do all for you. I shall look for- 
ward to conference, expecting you to be there, (if God will,) as 
you have been these thirty years, in the front of Zion's armies." 

His affectionate nature moved him to be ever ready to min- 
ister to the afflicted. To one who had been painfully bereaved 
he writes, February 10, 1835 : 

" For several months I have heard of your afflictions, and I 
can no longer consent to indulge toward you a silent sympathy. 
Though sorrows press upon me and upon my suffering family, 
yet I and they can feel for you. I go each day (in mind) to 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



75 



Athens and to Short Creek, and live over the days and weeks 
in which your Christian courtesy and care and watchfulness 
ministered health to my body and comfort to my mind ; and 
then I seem to see you, separate from your husband and your 
son, wearing out the lonely winter months in solitude and sick- 
ness ; and while busied with such meditations I am reminded 
of the apostle's words, ' Weep with those who weep.' 

" But often I think of you with other views and different 
feelings. I consider how long you have been a follower of the 
Lamb ; how much your covenant God has done for you ; how 
large, and sure, and fruitful his gracious promises are; and I 
seem to see you smile amid all your pains, and beholding you 
rejoice, I 'rejoice with' you. You know in whom you have 
believed. You have not been entertaining yourself through life 
with a cunningly devised fable. Your study has been the truth, 
the wisdom of God. And how often has it yielded you heav- 
enly fruit. Often your experience has fulfilled these words : 

' Celestial fruit on earthly ground, 
From faith and hope may grow.' 

Press closer than ever to your heart the blessed book of promise. 
Use those portions of it which especially suit your present con- 
dition. In it you will learn the patience of Job, and will find 
that in the end the Lord is full of grace and compassion. Our 
claim to the filial character is determined, in part at least, by the 
chastisement we receive from God. If we are without chastise- 
ment we are not children ; for ' What child is there whom the 
father chasteneth not ? ' May your afflictions work for you 4 the 
peaceable fruits of righteousness.' 

" What I suggest for your comfort we have need to consider 
with self-application. My dear wife is on a bed of sickness, 
and with but a faint prospect of recovery. Her complaint is 
pulmonary, and the physicians have but little hope. She is 
some better just now, and we dare to hope. But one week 
may disappoint our hope for ever. The Lord, in whose hands 
are our times, will do all things well. 1 In all our afflictions he 
is afflicted.' O may we remember this in every trying hour I 
My own health is good considering my condition. 

"I think often and affectionately of your aged father and 



LI7Z OF BISHOP HAMMKE. 



worthy friends. Please to remember me to them very par- 
ticularly, especially Father Spahr and his family. Sister Mor- 
gan, and my dear brother. Edward Morgan. Mrs. Hamfine 
sends the assurance of her warmest love to you, and wishes 
you to pray that God would bless her. Her mind is generally 
composed and resigned- She is seeking a preparation for a 
holy heaven." 

Until the autumn of 1S34 Mr. EL had never removed his 
family from their pleasant home at Zanesville. When he re- 
ceived his appointment to the station in Cincinnati it was 
necessary that they should change their residence. Rev. Jacob 
Young, who was like a father in the Gospel to them both, 
being at their house, Mrs. H. took him through the house 
and over the grounds, showing him the comfort and interest 
they supplied, and said. u Do you wonder, Brother Young, that 
I have been reluctant to leave this home?" 

•■ 0. Sister Hamline." said he. ,k it is very fine, but it is not 
quite equal to heaven.*' A remark which she often repeated 
during her short stay on earth. 

They removed to Cincinnati but her health, already pros- 
trate, steadily declined till death. She often during her illness 
referred to Brother Young's remark, and expressed great regret 
that she had not done more for the Saviour, putting her gold 
watch, etc, into the missionary treasury. In the Bible M Family 
Record" it is written : '"Her last act was to raise her dying hand 
• . y it r.- the hriii of her little son. L. P. Hamline, to give 
him her dying benediction." She said, " Smg. n Her favorite 
: ;ziiir~ :izr 

• • How do thy mercies close me round," 
was begun, and at the lines, 

" Sin, earth, and hell I now defy, 
I lean upon my Saviour's breast," 

her spirit took its flight to her heavenly home. March 27, 1835. 

Several years later. Bishop EL thus refers to this part of his 
ministry : ,b After a year of local labor I traveled Ohio Circuit, 
in the Pittsburgh Conference, with that venerable man, Rev. 
Jacob Young. In 1831-2 I traveled Mount Vernon Circuit with 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



77 



Rev. James M'Mahon, a faithful and beloved colleague; in 
1832-3 was on Newark Circuit with that holy man, now in 
heaven, Rev. H. Fernandis ; in 1833-4 was on the Athens Cir- 
cuit with my first colleague, Brother Young; and in 1834-5 at 
Wesley Chapel in Cincinnati, where, with the exception of three 
months in Columbus, I have made my home ever since, nearly 
eight years in the editor's office." " I joined the Ohio Annual 
Conference on probation in 1832, was ordained deacon at Circle- 
ville, in 1834, by Bishop Soule, and elder by the same in 1836 at 
the Chillicothe Conference." 

To the Rev. J. Young, on the death of Mrs. Young, writing 
on August 17, 1837, he thus ministers consolation : 

" I sit down with feelings of deep, distressing sympathy for 
you and your dear sons, to record my recollections of that 
beloved saint whom you have spared to go a little before you 
to heaven; but my record will be brief. Too many of her 
virtues crowd on my mind to permit me to attempt their 
bare recital. I waive it by simply saying that I need no 
monitor to keep before my mind her fair example of all that 
adorn the character of friend, of Christian, of mother, and of 
wife. And now she blooms with my Eliza and her firstborn 
in glory. 

"O what a meeting was it when, beyond the sights and 
sounds of misery, she found herself possessing the beatitudes of 
heaven; clothed with its robes, decked with its crowns, waving 
its holy palms, walking with its saints, singing and adoring 
with all its burning hosts ! 

" My brother, when we look for our departed friends, how 
natural it is to go to the coffin, unfold the shroud, or to the 
grave, where roses bloom and willows weep in morning dews. 
Let it not be so with us. Glory be to Jesus ! you have an eye 
to see beyond these gloomy death scenes. You have learned to 
seek the dead in Christ, not in the cold grave, but in a bright 
and spotless heaven ; not in mortal, but in immortal forms, do 
you now look for the companion of your spirit. 

" I know, my brother, it is utterly in vain to look for any 
comfort but from heaven and from its Saviour when such 
afflictions come. Look to heaven, look to Christ. I have trod 

# 



78 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINK. 



this path of thorns, and even now the remembrance of its 
bitterness makes my heart bleed afresh, bleed for you. 

""Were it possible that I could cheer you but an hour I 
•would gladly leave my home and ride -with you two weeks to 
do you so small as one hour's friendly service. 

4 ' I have been laboring under serious ill health, but am better. 
I now spend the time principally in writing. At present I am 
preparing a missionary sermon, that if I should go to conference 
I may not be placed in so embarrassing a condition as I was 
last year. 

••Mv beloved brother, let me not be thought forward when 
I urge you to go out at once from your solitary home to 
the district, and dwell and labor constantly among God's 
people. Let the zeal of God's house eat up your soul. I 
think in my distress labor for God was my preservation, i" 
long to see y<?w." 

One of his early friends, a zealous and talented presiding 
elder, says : 

" I first saw 3Ir. Hardline in the summer of 1831 at a camp- 
meeting. His personal appearance instantly attracted attention ; 
but, with the exception of a very few, none knew who he was, 
whence he came, or what his previous history. It was soon 
whispered around, however, that he was a very talented lawyer 
turned preacher, and of course expectation was on tiptoe, and 
that expectation was not disappointed. He preached but once, 
yet that once was sufficient to assure his hearers of his future 
usefulness and eminence. Thirty-four eventful years have not 
effaced, have scarcely dimmed the recollection of that sermon 
in my own mind. The text, 1 Te are my witnesses,' afforded a 
fine opportunity for employing his legal attainments in illus- 
trating and enforcing Gospel truth, an opportunity of which 
he did not fail to avail himself. 

,; He had traveled a circuit for a few months during the year 
in connection with the venerable Jacob Young. The year fol- 
lowing he was employed as a supply on Knox Circuit, and in 
1S32 he was received on trial into the Ohio Conference, and 
appointed to Granville Circuit This was my home, and here 
my acquaintance with him properly commenced. Here, too, 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



79 



commenced a friendship which was never afterward inter- 
rupted. 

" He spent most of his time among the people, and it was my 
privilege to be much in his company, and to become somewhat 
familiar with his religious life. He was eminently devotional, 
prayed a great deal in secret, and made experimental religion 
the leading theme of conversation. The prevailing tone of his 
own experience seemed to be joyous, and I recollect hearing 
him say publicly, that if any one had told him beforehand how 
much real happiness he was to enjoy he could not have believed 
it, because he did not suppose it possible for a human being 
to enjoy so much. He had, it is true, seasons of spiritual 
conflict. 

" In social life he was affable, yet serious. His conversation 
was highly edifying, yet he seemed as if seeking rather than 
imparting instruction. I remember visiting with him once at 
the house of an intelligent retired sea captain. He was medi- 
tating a sermon on Hebrews vi, 19, and while entertaining his 
host with his own favorite theme, drew from him full and 
accurate information concerning the anchor, its uses, position 
on shipboard, the manner of handling it ; in short, everything 
that would throw light upon the subject of his meditations. I 
was always, when in his company, impressed with the ease 
with which he adapted himself to the peculiarities of those 
with whom he mingled, making them feel entirely at ease in 
his presence, yet always maintaining the dignity, the polish, 
the seriousness of the accomplished Christian gentleman, and 
of the earnest, faithful Christian pastor. 

" Always, in public and in private, he seemed to bear in 
mind the apostolic injunction, ' Be courteous.' From this rule 
he never departed. And yet when he thought it necessary to 
minister rebuke he could do it with terrible severity. I have 
in my mind now some of the most withering rebukes to which 
I ever listened. He did not delight in sarcasm, and yet he 
could use it with telling effect. Indeed he never seemed at a 
loss in meeting any emergency that might arise. 

" He seldom spoke of his earlier life only in general terms, 
and never to gratify an idle and prying curiosity. When he 



80 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



did refer to it ever so indirectly, it was always in the spirit of 
the ever-penitent Paul, and that he might magnify the grace 
of God ; but usually he seemed to wish his life-history to begin 
with his conversion, and forgetting the things that were 
behind, to reach forth to those things that were before. I 
remember seeing him once rise in a love-feast, and with a 
depth of feeling that moved every heart, he said, ' I have much, 
very much to say of myself, but I shall say it in very few 
words : " This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of 
whom I am chief." ' He said no more, and needed to say no 
more. 

" Everywhere he moved, in the social meeting, in the family 
circle, in the more confidential intercourse of private friendship, 
he was the central object of interest; yet nowhere did he 
awaken such universal interest as in the pulpit. Here he 
shone with unrivaled splendor. And yet it was not a dazzling 
but a revealing light, a light that revealed truth. For the 
time we lost sight of the man, or only looked to him as the 
guide that led us up to seemingly inaccessible heights of 
thought, and thence pointed out to us truths that seemed to 
lie beyond the range of ordinary vision. There was, however, 
considerable inequality in his preaching. He never failed to 
interest, never descended into the neighborhood of mediocrity, 
but frequently so far transcended all ordinary limits that his 
less successful efforts seemed moderate by comparison. It was 
only when compared with himself that I ever knew him make 
a failure. 

" One of the best sermons I ever heard, he preached in Gran- 
ville at one of his ordinary Sabbath appointments. He never 
lacked the stimulus of a full house, for wherever it was known 
he was to preach, eager multitudes flocked to hear. On the 
occasion referred to the text was in Galatians vi, 7, 8. The 
present life was considered as the seed time of man's existence, 
the future state as the harvest, and that harvest 1 corruption ' in 
the one case, 'life everlasting' in the other, as the natural 
result of the sowing. The sermon was exhaustive of the 
subject, and was delivered in his happiest style. It seemed to 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



81 



me like some grand edifice of immense magnitude, of faultless 
proportions, of exquisite workmanship, and so perfectly forti- 
fied as to be impregnable at every point. For days it was 
almost constantly before my mind. I could not help a feeling 
of wonder that any merely human intellect should originate 
conceptions so grand, of such marvelous beauty, and then 
combine them into a whole of such wondrous strength. 

"l am sure I never heard that sermon surpassed, though I 
have heard some of the best preachers in America, and I doubt 
whether I have ever heard it equaled. I heard him on the 
same text some years afterward, and though the general plan 
was about the same, and the sermon was evidently the product 
of a great mind, it lacked the freshness, the completeness of 
finish, and the inspiration of the former discourse, and failed 
to produce anything like the same impression. 

But while I give the preference to this sermon as a whole, 
it did not produce more manifest present effect than some 
others preached during that year. I think the most marked 
impression that I ever witnessed under his preaching was pro- 
duced by a sermon on the text, ' How shall we escape if we 
neglect so great salvation ? ' It was preached at night during 
a protracted meeting in the town of Newark. 

" In order to illustrate the greatness of salvation he dwelt at 
considerable length on the greatness of the evils from which it 
saves. The church, as usual, was crowded to the utmost, and 
he held the audience as if spell-bound. As he proceeded the 
excitement became intensely painful. He seemed as one stand- 
ing where he could look down into the measureless depths of 
the gulf of perdition, and contemplate all its indescribable 
horrors. And he brought us all up to the same standpoint with 
himself, and then stood there, pointing out to us the unutter- 
able woes of a lost soul. Never, before nor since, was the scene 
brought before me as such a terrible and present reality. 
Throughout the congregation not the slightest movement was 
visible, and the silence was unbroken save by the voice of the 
preacher, and now and then a deep groan, which seemed to 
come from the depths of some stricken or sympathizing heart. 
At length a point was reached where I felt that I could not 



82 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



endure much more. I could not help wishing he would stay 
his hand. But how he was to withdraw from his position, 
how change the current of feeling without disastrous revulsion, 
was more than I could imagine ; but I soon found that he was 
master of the situation. Just at the critical moment our minds 
were turned from the contemplation of this fearful scene of 
suffering to consider the justice of God, which not only per- 
mitted but required such seeming severity in the punishment 
of sin. This was done in few words, and so skillfully that 
when in concluding he cried out, ' And let all the people say 
amen] it seemed to me that every one in that congregation, as 
if moved by one common impulse, joined him in that ' amen? 

" I have always been at a loss to know how to characterize 
his preaching at this period of his ministry. It was scholarly, 
and yet there was far more evidence of profound original 
thought than of mere book learning. His person was com- 
manding, his countenance benign, his gestures easy and impress- 
ive, his voice, a deep, rich bass, was exceedingly musical, and 
his elocution all that could be desired. He seemed to have a 
complete mastery of rhetoric and logic, hence his style was 
graceful and his reasoning conclusive. His imagination was 
rich and fruitful, but perhaps a little somber, its shading a 
little too deep. But whether it ranged through scenes gloomy 
or bright it was held under strict control, and was steadily 
directed to the attainment of ends approved by his sober 
judgment. His language, of which he had fine command, was 
singularly chaste and elevated, and though his style seemed 
entirely his own, yet it gave evidence of a very thorough 
acquaintance with our best classics. 

u His manner was devout, earnest, often impassioned, but 
never boisterous. His audiences were frequently moved, in- 
tensely excited, but it was a subdued, solemn excitement, and, 
like his manner, was never boisterous. He seldom failed to 
reach the heart of his hearers, but it was through the intellect 
and the conscience, and his assaults upon the heart were 
always made with the weapons of truth. His pleading with 
men to be reconciled to God at times seemed to me irresistible ; 
yet he did not excel in pathetic appeal, indeed seldom at- 



HIS EARLY MINISTRY. 



83 



tempted it, but, like the great apostle to the Gentiles, knowing 
the terror of the Lord, he persuaded men. 

" He had not at that time the matured religious experience 
"which he afterward attained, nor the clear views of Christian 
holiness which so strongly characterized his later ministry; 
but I doubt whether he was ever more thoroughly in earnest, 
or more successful in winning souls to Christ, than during that 
year. He was most lovingly associated with the heavenly- 
minded H. S. Fernandis and the zealous S. H. Holland, and 
glorious revivals of religion crowned their labors." 



84 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER IV. 

CONTINUATION OF MINISTRY EDITORSHIP. 

By the death of Mrs. Hamline Mr. H. was left with the care of 
two little sons, both in very feeble health, who greatly needed 
a mother's tender assiduities. One of these followed its sainted 
mother to the heavenly world a few months after. Through 
the favorings of Divine Providence he became acquainted with 
Mrs. Malinda Truesdell, who had also been subject to a similar 
bereavement in the death of her husband, a man of exalted 
piety and literary ability. Both having been bereaved about 
the same time, sympathy ripened into confirmed affection. 
The following year they were married. That the union was 
eminently of God, who that traces the future course of Mr. H. 
can doubt. 

To the Rev. J. Young he writes, Xenia, August 2, 1838 : " I 
most sincerely reciprocate all your expressions of friendship, 
and look back to Short Creek, and other places where I was 
favored with your society and counsel, with very deep emotion. 
I think of some of our dearest earthly comforts and blessings 
now fled to heaven. Almost every day I converse with my 
beloved Mrs. Hamline about her excellent Mr. Truesdell and 
my beloved Eliza, and we seldom fail to bring you and your 
sainted Ruth into the group of the living and the departed. 
O, my dear brother, may the Lord make all our losses to be 
ministers of grace, and bring us nearer to heaven ! Pray for us 
just now." 

Mr. H. was much interested in the cause of missions, and on 
one occasion had serious thoughts of offering his service as a 
missionary to France. Writing to his true yoke-fellow, Rev. 
Jacob Young, he says, April 15, 1838 : 

"Your letter has not been replied to as early as it should 
have been, but that I was in hopes to have been at the 



CONTINUATION OF MINISTRY. 



85 



examination of the female seminary, and to speak rather than 
write. 

" I failed to see you on account of the sickness of my family 
and the bad roads, either of which would have rendered my 
journeying to Columbus at that time very difficult. 

" Now, my dear brother, let me say a word confidentially. I 
am a candidate for missionary labors. My mind has for many 
months been greatly bent on the subject of missions. Some 
four months since I began to think much about France, the 
land of my forefathers. I am now anxious to be sent to that 
fair but desolated clime to preach Jesus and the resurrection. 
I am studying the language in all my spare hours, with some 
hope that I may find my way among that people. I wish very 
much to see you just now.' I know of no man to whom I could 
so freely and fully unbosom myself as to you, nor one of whom 
I could so safely and satisfactorily crave advice. 

"I think some of making a formal offer of myself to the 
bishops while they sit in New York. Can you write within 
two weeks and tell me whether this would be improper ? 

" If there be no other way for me to go to France I think I 
might go at my own charge. 

" I shall be very anxious to hear from you on this subject, 
and if I could receive a letter within two weeks from this date 
it would be to me a great relief. I feel more than ever desirous 
to put my hand firmly on the Gospel plow and use it to break 
up fallow ground." 

At this time Bishop Soule resided at Lebanon, Ohio. Mr. 
H. having been greatly blessed in his efforts to promote a 
revival there, Bishop Soule, writing on March 18, 1838, thus 
urges a renewal of his labors : 

" I am induced, not only by the solicitation of friends but 
also by the clearest convictions of my own mind, to invite you 
to come over and help us. It is, I judge, of special importance 
that we have your help on next Sabbath-day. A strong effort 
it is believed will be made on that day to draw away from our 
fold those who have received all their religious impressions at 
our church. Religious influence is manifestly increasing in our 
village among every class of society. 



86 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Indeed we are encouraged to hope that the triumph will 
be complete. Many have been happily converted to God since 
Brother Hamline left us, and I have never known so many 
souls reckon their convictions from the labors of one day as 
from the Sabbath on which Brother Hamline preached in oui 
church. His sermons resulted in incalculable good, I assure 
you that the call for your help at this crisis is of no ordinary 
character. I have not time to enter into the peculiar circum- 
stances. I think they are such as to require extraordinary 
exertion. In consequence of the extreme badness of the roads 
between this place and Cincinnati our brethren propose for you 
to come to Middletown by the canal, where they will meet you 
with a private carriage and convey you to Lebanon. It is 
greatly desired that you should be here by next Thursday 
night, to remain over the Sabbath. Don't fail to come unless 
under circumstances of a very pressing character. I shall wait 
with no ordinary interest to hear from you, if practicable, by 
return of mail. Let me know when we may meet you with a 
carriage at Middletown. Can you be there on Thursday 
morning or noon ? The ' south-east corner ' of my house will 
be in reserve for you." 

The elder of the district had been Mr. H.'s colleague, was 
himself an able and popular preacher, and though a good 
man, seemed annoyed at the popularity of his colleague. 
There was no other difficulty between them. This will explain 
the cause of his writing thus to Mrs. H. from the conference 
at Xenia : 

u My heart is much with you. I trust you are well, and if 
not, very happy at least. 

u The characters of the preachers were examined to-day. I 
was surprised to learn that while I was out the presiding elder 
stated as follows, (Brother Moody wrote down the words and 
gave them to me :) 1 Brother H. is one of the most dignified, 
gentlemanly men in his varied intercourse with society that I 
ever knew. He has preached as much as his health would 
allow. He is not only an acceptable but an elegant preacher. 
He is considered a most conscientious and pure man, and is 
beloved and respected as a man } a Christian, and a preacher. 



EDITORSHIP. 



87 



"To this speech of Brother Brother Elliott added, 

' I can reiterate all that has been said of him, and as a coad- 
jutor he is all that I could desire.' Kind men ! O that I were 
worthy ! 

"I am better; am more cheerful. I hope to see you by 
Friday. I preached last night, (Friday,) with great comfort, 
on ' What is man ? ' 

" F. Dighton is here and preaches like an angel. 

" To-morrow is Sunday. You shall hear from me again 
soon." 

At the session of the Ohio Annual Conference in 1839, Mr. 
Hamline was elected a delegate to the General Conference 
which was held in Baltimore, 1840. He was appointed chair- 
man of the Committee on the Memorial to Establish a Periodical 
for Females, as recommended by the Ohio Annual Conference, 
and presented a report, which was adopted. The committee 
say : " It has become customary for opulent American families 
to take at least one such periodical, and it seems to the com- 
mittee of high importance that in a religious community 
containing eight hundred thousand souls, one at least, 
blending if possible the theology of the Bible as incul- 
cated by Methodism with the attractions of a chastened 
literature, should be placed within the reach of our female 
members." 

It was at this session of the General Conference that Mr. 
Hamline was apppointed assistant editor with Dr. Elliott of 
the Western Christian Advocate, and the publications of the 
Western Book Concern at Cincinnati, except the German pub- 
lications. Under his able supervision the Ladies' Eepository 
was commenced, of which he was the successful and popular 
editor, till called to relinquish the editorial chair for the epis- 
copal office at the general conference of 1844. Those who, as 
ourselves, enjoyed the privilege of receiving the monthly visits 
of the Eepository, will remember with interest the dignified and 
intellectual bearing, and, above all, the influential and attractive 
piety with which it won its way to the heart and mind of the 
religious public. 

During the session of the conference he writes to Mrs. H. : 



Si 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLST.. 



• u Baxttscosx, May 10, 1840. 

- Tout second letter reached me this day at one o'clock. On 
Friday morning I was anxious, and feared yon might be ill ; 
but now all is welL 

■ Our business goes on slowly. This is the ninth day. and 
we have done almost nothing except talk. I am on the slavery 
committee, and hare enough of it. It is worse than a battle 
on land or a storm at sea. I haYe other troubles. You will 
see by a paper which I sent you on Saturday something of 
their nature. "When they applied to me for a speech in the 
missionary meeting I understood there would be several 
addresses. When it was published from the pulpits, and then 
in the city papers, that Xewton of London and Hamline of 
Ohio would address the meeting. I was thunderstruck. Yon 
will not hear in time to pray for me. I thank you for the 
poetry : it is inimitable. I haYe to preach again to-morrow at 
ten o'clock in Monument-street Church. 

• I wish if possible to go to Wilmington. DeL, and to 
Washington city : but all is doubtfoL 

"As to politics, tell your worthy nephew that I scarcely 
think of them once a week, only when I fall into company 
which dwells on them. I am myself a candidate, but it is for 
eternal life. I aspire to a throne, but I must haYe one which 
• will not perish. I labor to secure my election to a sphere high 
above all thought of earthly minds. I would rather be frozen 
up at the Xortli Pole in a globe of ice. and be doomed to exist 
there in agony a century, than to lie an hour exposed to lose 
forever heazen and God and afl. How then can I stay to be a 
politician. I have no hope for the country at any rate any 
farther than religion sanctifies. Christianity is freedom, the 
want of it is slavery. Let me be doomed to all the dungeons 
of tyrannizing cruelty for a thousand long lives, if I may but 
have my own soul unshackeled. free ; the chains of passion, 
selfishness, earthliness knocked off: the Spirit in all its liber- 
ated affections springing up. up, up unto God. All powers 
harmfuL malignant, devilish, kill me, over and over again do 
the deed ; let me be dying always as to my body, but let my 
soul lire. I cry out with suffocation at the bare thought of a 



EDITORSHIP. 



89 



death of thirty past years in sin, compared with which I would 
gain to enter on the trade of dying thirty years in every dying 
man's place day by day on all the earth. 

" O may our blessed Lord and Saviour give you all your 
dear friends to be partakers of our joys unspeakable and full of 
glory ! 

"My health is perfect. I must now suspend till Monday 
morning, for though I date then, it is now Saturday evening, 
and near bedtime. 

" Dearly beloved, a word this Sabbath evening. It has been 
a very rainy Sabbath-day. I had a beautiful church and good 
congregation, a comfortable time in preaching the ' Advocate ' 
to sinners. I have nothing to add. I will write on Wednes- 
day. I hope before then to have heard Brother Durbin. 
Heaven bless thee more and more ! " 

During the General Conference at Baltimore he was ap- 
pointed to preach to the large and intelligent congregation of 
Dr. Bacchus, Presbyterian. Anxious to interest the hearers 
and meet the expectations of his brethren of the conference, he 
selected a carefully-prepared sermon, the theme of which would 
accord with the views of the Church he was to address — " Hu- 
man Depravity." During the entire discussion he was tempted 
with the thought that the sermon was not adapted to the 
place ; that he was not teaching sinners to come to Christ, but 
was, in familiar phrase, shooting over their heads. At the 
close of the sermon, though quite out of the common order, he 
added a warm exhortation to come to Christ now and be 
saved from depravity and sin. During the exhortation a rust- 
ling in the gallery produced the impression that some one had 
fainted, or something of the sort. Services closed as usual. 
In the afternoon, while passing down the street in company 
with Rev. J. Young, a colored man was noticed approaching 
with a broad smile. Supposing that he had met him as barber 
somewhere, Mr. H. beckoned him across the street and said, 
" My friend, you appear to know me ; where have I seen you ? " 
" You don't know me, but, bless the Lord ! I know you, and am 
a star in your crown of rejoicing. I have been several years 



90 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



seeking religion, and while yon preached about depravity to- 
day I saw myself, and loathed my sins as never before. And 
when at the close you exhorted sinners to believe in Jesus now, 
I was enabled to believe and was converted. I was so over- 
come that they were obliged to help me down stairs. Did you 
not hear a noise in the gallery ? " 

Inquiring of his host, A. G. Cole, Esq., of Baltimore, Mr. H. 
learned that the convert, William Johnson, was a very re- 
putable colored man, a teacher of music among his people in 
that city. At the close of his six months' probation he was 
licensed as a local preacher. The subjoined letter, which Mr. 
H. subsequently received from him, will explain itself: 

" Baltimore, January 15, 1841. 
" Honoeed and dear Friend, — Having a little leisure to- 
day, I propose to fulfill a promise made to you last June, 
namely, to write you in six months' time. I scarcely know 
how to begin an address to one whom God has seen fit to use 
as the instrument in the conversion of my soul. I never can 
think of the ' blest hour when from above I first received the 
pledge of love' without remembering the time, the place, the 
text, the sermon, and imagining that I see the minister stand- 
ing in the sacred desk, and in his sweet tone of eloquence con- 
ducting my mind to a point where, for the first time, my flinty 
heart was melted down in deep contrition, and I felt that the 
Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world was willing 
to blot out my transgressions, and gradually my soul was rid 
of the load which was pressing me down to despair. Then the 
vail was rent which had ever obscured the Light of life from 
my vision ; then the love of God was shed abroad in my heart 
by the Holy Ghost which was given unto me ; then was I in 
the light of the Lord, and have ever since endeavored to walk in 
that Light, yea, rather going on to perfection, for I am stronger 
now than when I first believed. Many besetments and troubles 
have I undergone since last June, but out of all the Lord 
delivered me. I will now touch a subject of a delicate nature. 
I feel impressed by the Spirit of God to call sinners to repent- 
ance; to do which I go forward to-day to obtain authority 



EDITORSHIP. 



91 



from the Church. O solemn to tell ! Pray for me, that I may 
walk orderly before the God of my salvation, for I rely very 
much on your prayers. And if we never meet on earth, may 
we meet in heaven. — Your affectionate brother in the Lord, 

" William Johnson." 

The parents of Bishop Hamline knew nothing of Methodism, 
and considered the word synonymous with fanaticism. Its 
doctrines, if it had anything which might be termed doctrines, 
they supposed comprised Pelagianism, Unitarianism, and various 
other heresies; almost anything but sound theology. With 
these views the father of Mr. H., as was natural for one so con- 
scientious, was greatly afflicted to learn that his own son had 
become a Methodist preacher, and years passed without oppor- 
tunity of showing the good man how greatly he was in error on 
this point. 

In 1840, on his way to General Conference at Baltimore, the 
long absent son paid his father a visit, and being invited to 
occupy the Congregational pulpit, preached in the morning on 
" Depravity," and in the afternoon on " Christian Experience." 
The elders of the Church listened with profound attention, and 
said at the close, "H. has certainly preached to us doctrines 
which he learned before he left us in his youth." But antici- 
pating the result, he had taken with him Watson's Theological 
Institutes, a Methodist Discipline, and some other works, which 
he presented to his father. With delighted surprise the ven- 
erable man perused these books, and before his son left for his 
western home he had the happiness of hearing that his father 
was entirely satisfied that he should preach Methodist doc- 
trines, having become convinced that though not Calvinistic, 
they contained no fatal error. In less than four weeks after 
this visit that father had closed his earthly and entered his 
heavenly life. 

On the circuits which Mr. H. had traveled in his earlier 
ministry, in connection with beloved colleagues, he had glorious 
revivals, especially in Newark, Ohio, and at Batemantown ; the 
latter a place of strong Univeiealist influence. His method was 
never to dispute or argue with these people, never to preach 



92 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



polemic sermons, but to preach Christ crucified, and show, inci- 
dentally, that the Bible teaches that there is an eternal hell for 
the wicked. 

His sermons were ever no less remarkable for powerful argu- 
ment than for pathetic appeal and eloquent description : always 
systematic and logical, and (unless when very vehement) grace- 
fully and impressively delivered, with a voice of richness and 
weight only equaled by its melody; and when endued with 
power from on high, his appeals seemed almost resistless. 

"Delhi, November 21, 1842. 
" To Mrs. H., — The Lord is merciful, and Jesus is precious 
to me this morning. I will now tell you of my yesterday's 
work. I walked to Cheviot, four miles, in the morning; got 
there at half past eight to love-feast ; x>reached at a funeral at 
eleven o'clock; then preached again at half past two; then 
walked back again to Brother Green's, which I reached at sun- 
down ; then went to meeting and exhorted after Brother Kil 
breth, took in two members, (one of them Mr. Martin Souder's 
brother-in-law, whose Presbyterian wife will follow him ;) came 
home and slept sweetly, and this morning feel strong in God 
and in the power of his might. I shall preach here at ten and 
at night, and to-morrow at the same hours. Pray for me. The 
work is going on wonderfully. Universalists are getting ter- 
ribly shaken. I shall not be much at Cheviot. My work is 
here, so Brother White, the preacher on the circuit, thinks. 
I will be home Wednesday or Thursday. I love to pray for my 
dear Malinda and my little boy. Bless the Lord, O my soul ! 
Pray, pray, pray !" 

"Delhi, November, 1842. 
" To Mrs. H., — Six joined last evening. Congregation large 
and serious. Universalists full of wrath. I think the prospect 
good. You may expect me at home to-morrow at ten or eleven 
o'clock. ... I feel better than usual this morning. Preached 
at eleven o'clock from ' Seek first the kingdom of God and his 
righteousness.' Last night from 'Hope.' Pray for us. I 
beseech a gracious Redeemer to bless you, dearest, and build 
us up in sanctification. This is one of the most godly families 



EDITOKSHIP. 



93 



I ever saw. In family prayer we get wonderfully blest. O that 
yon could be here a day or two ! Perhaps you will come out 
to-morrow evening when I return. Pray for us ! " 

Late in the autumn of 1841 he went with Brother Sworm- 
stedt, Book Agent at Cincinnati, to New Orleans to attend the 
Louisiana Conference. On this journey he bought one of the 
new and popular novels of the day to read, as he said, to test 
the effect of this sort of reading on his religious feelings, and, 
as the editor of a Ladies' Monthly, to write understanding^ on 
the subject of "novel reading." From the time of his conver- 
sion he had entirely given up that class of writings. Of this 
experiment he said, " I was often moved by the sentiments of 
the book, could not but be charmed by the style, etc. ; but 
when I attempted to turn from it to prayer, I found myself not 
only unfitted for that solemn exercise, but averse to it." 

He had just built a dwelling-house in Cincinnati, and said 
soon after his return from New Orleans, " I have consecrated 
every brick in my house to God, and every apartment is dedi- 
cated to his service." About this time he was awakened more 
especially to heart-holiness. He felt that he could not continue 
to preach the Gospel without more divine power, and discerned 
that full salvation was just what he needed as an embassador 
for Christ. It was his nature to do whatever he did with great 
earnestness, and this characteristic was especially exemplified 
in his seeking entire sanctification. He ate and slept barely 
enough to support nature, attended to his editorial duties with 
characteristic fidelity, and spent all the time he could redeem 
in devotion. He was often found with his face on the floor, at 
the deep midnight hour, in solemn wrestling with God. When- 
ever Christian friends called, after a few minutes spent in con- 
versation or business, prayer was proposed, and each in turn 
called upon God for his blessing. If by invitation a few friends 
gathered to spend the evening with his family, the visit became 
a prayer-meeting. And if he went out by invitation to dinner 
or tea with a friend, the time was, by his request, largely spent 
jJl prayer and praise. During the winter he preached nearly 
every Sabbath, often two and three times. 



94 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER V. 

BAPTISM OF FIEE. 

On the 22d of March, 1842, at the house of Mr. Downey, New 
Albany, IncL, he received the holy baptism so long and so earn- 
estly sought. To use his own words, like most of his brethren, 
he had been attentive to the means of grace in the closet and in 
the sanctuary ; yet his devotions had sometimes been formal, 
not exerting a sufficiently vital influence on his life. Once in 
night visions he stood on a snow-drift near to a village of thirty 
or forty old tenements. The street was on his right hand, some 
fifty rods distant ; and about as far from him in the opposite 
direction he saw in his dream a lion of the largest size, and of 
a most ferocious aspect, making toward him. He made for the 
nearest house, thinking that possibly he might run half the dis- 
tance that his pursuing foe must accomplish in order to over- 
take him before he reached it. As he entered the house and 
closed the door his savage pursuer reached it. Scarcely had 
he time to congratulate himself on his escape, when he per- 
ceived that the door was broken and its panels loose, and that 
a slight pressure upon it from without would expose him, un- 
protected, to the fury of the lion. He saw, too, that the house 
was uninhabited, and open at various points ; so that, after all 
his efforts, he was not protected, and would probably soon be 
torn in pieces. In the agitation which ensued he awoke, with 
these words sounding, it seemed, in his ears and through his 
soul : " Who goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he 
may devour." 

None can conjecture the effect of this dream. The words of 
Scripture seemed for days to be ringing all through him ; and 
the supposed escape from the lion, with a vivid recollection of 
the agony experienced in the exposed condition here described, 
made an impression so deep and abiding that it proved a salu- 



BAPTISM OF FIRE. 



95 



tary warning. It was probably the means of restraining him 
from a further relapse, or perhaps an entire falling away; for 
doubtless, without supernatural checks and aids, Christ's dis- 
ciples would all forsake him. 

At another time, when his faith had declined, and of course 
all the graces of the Spirit languished, he awoke from undream- 
ing slumber, with these words impressed upon him in a most 
solemn yet consoling manner: "I will be as the dew unto 
Israel; he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his root as 
Lebanon;" and blessed results again followed this merciful 
visitation. 

On another occasion he dreamed that he was worshiping in 
a Baptist church, and that, the eucharist being administered, 
he was denied the privilege of communion. But he seemed to 
be in the altar on his knees, in a posture to receive the elements, 
and that there the love of God was diffused through his soul 
wonderfully, as at his conversion. He thought that he began 
to proclaim the Saviour's love, and walked on his knees to the 
door as he did so. He awoke, and was so affected to find it 
was a dream, rather than a saving reality, that he wept much. 

Meanwhile it was the case that, though variable in his states 
of mind, and so visited in his slumbers, he had generally no 
faith in dreams. He seldom recollected the imaginations of 
his sleeping hours, and scarcely ever spoke of them ; yet at the 
times here mentioned his dreams were somehow connected with 
deep and solemn religious impressions. In 1842 he became 
deeply affected in view of his need of heart purity. It was no 
dream that then drew his attention to the want of the entire 
sanctification of his nature. Realities which crowded upon 
him in fearful array, and burdened his soul in a manner inde- 
scribable, impelled him to seek the Saviour's full image. It 
commenced in the closet. Its earliest stage was a clear dis- 
covery — aided by circumstances extremely reproving — of his 
lukewarmness. He was brought to feel that, though born 
again, he had lost much of his confidence to enter into com- 
munion with God. A sense of the captivity which oppressed 
Mm became very deep and affecting. In this state he betook 
himself more diligently to prayer. At first it seemed a mere 



96 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



duty, almost joyless and burdensome, discharged not for present 
comfort, but in regard to resulting advantages. He resolved, 
however, to practice it night and day. He anticipated that for 
a long time devotion would be a mere travail of soul, and might 
be severely protracted. For a few days it was as he expected ; 
but instead of months of agony, he soon felt the softenings of 
the Spirit, which all who have experienced know to be grateful 
to the soul — a pleasing rather than a painful state of mind. 

Very soon, so powerful was the work of G-od on his heart, that 
his tongue was almost constantly employed in prayer or praise. 
Now it was that he saw more clearly than he ever had, how 
earnestly and perseveringly he must seek wisdom from God if 
he would be saved from backsliding. He began to inquire 
what safety there could be in one so prone to wander, while he 
carried about with him so many unsubdued tempers. He saw 
that in his heart were the roots of many evils, which, though 
they could not grow while under the reign of grace, yet were 
ever ready to spring up under the least declinings of faith and 
love. He felt that there was no safety in this state, and that 
he could never hope, without presumption, to persevere in the 
ways of the Lord without the entire destruction of these roots 
of evil. Moved by this motive, he began to cry unto the Lord 
to deliver him from the remains of the carnal mind. The reader 
may say, " This was very selfish." Doubtless it was not wholly 
free from selfishness ; but can we expect an unsanctified heart 
to act from motives entirely pure ? To say yes, might involve 
a contradiction in terms. An unsanctified heart is a denied 
fountain. Its motives are streams from that fountain ; and how, 
then, can they be without defilement ? Can a corrupt fountain 
send forth pure waters ? 

Day after day he besought the Lord to purify him from all 
sin. It might be said of him that he lived upon his knees; for, 
indeed, he became so used to this posture, and so intent on the 
blessing which he sought, that he grudged the time devoted 
to his sleep and meals. Meanwhile, he was more and more 
blessed. He felt that he grew in grace from day to day. His 
was emphatically a wrestling spirit. Bowed before the Lord, 
he had strength given him from above to take hold on God 



BAPTISM OF FIRE. 



97 



with an unyielding grasp. What fervors were then kindled in 
his bosom! What joys immortal overflowed his soul! He 
dwelt in the land Beulah, and discerned the glories of his 
distant home ; but with these joys he was not satisfied, and in 
them he determined not to rest. He persevered in almost unre- 
mitted cries for holiness. 

And now he had come to love holiness ; so that he desired it 
not only for safety, but for its own sake. It appeared to him 
infinitely beautiful and desirable. He thirsted for it as the 
hunted roe " pants for the water-brooks." He. could meditate, 
converse, read, and pray of little else. Everything in the uni- 
verse besides had become to him, as it were, a blank. All that 
was lovely in earth or in heaven seemed so merely on account 
of holiness. God was lovely because he was intensely holy ; 
and his creatures were lovely or unlovely in proportion as they 
did or did not partake of this attribute. Besides praying night 
and day for purity of heart, he read and studied on this to the 
exclusion of almost every other theme. The Bible was his text- 
book. He examined, also, Wesley, Fletcher, Watson, Benson, 
and other Wesleyan authors, with Merritt's Manual, Mahan, and 
the Guide to Holiness. One or another of those works was 
almost his constant companion. He also resorted to the society 
of the sanctified, questioned them, joined with them in prayer, 
and by every possible means sought knowledge and under- 
standing. And finally he began to feel that he had a " baptism 
to be baptized with," that he must be pure or die, that he could 
not endure life unless he might fulfill that language of the apos- 
tle, " as He is, so are we in this world." O ! his heart and his 
flesh then cried out for the living God, that the image of the 
heavenly might be restored to him— -fully restored. He was 
straitened beyond measure until this, even this, should be ac- 
complished in him. 

Yet, with such vehement desires burning in his heart, and 
glowing as it were through all his being, he was not unhappy. 
In the strength of these desires, and putting forth these strug- 
gles, he rejoiced. In them he had hope. He saw they were 
not from nature ; and if from the Spirit, which he could not 
doubt, this great and precious promise was suited to his case : 

5 



98 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, 
for they shall be filled." And in this hungering there was even 
fruition as well as hope. The bread and the water of life were 
so given him, as not instantly to fill his large desires, but (with 
much present comfort in partaking them) so as to sharpen his 
appetite for their exceeding sweetness. It must not be inferred 
that his state of mind was uniform ; that no seasons of relapse 
or coldness broke in upon this life of quickening ardors and 
vigorous devotion. Far from it. In the midst of these journey- 
ings he was often much discouraged. Like the ship beating 
into port, whose pilot misses his expectation to enter the harbor 
on the present tack, so was this spiritual mariner more than 
once thrown back, to be tempest-tossed and almost wrecked ere 
he entered into rest. 

The work of grace in the human soul is progressive ; yet it 
has several distinct stages. Conviction of sin is one state, re- 
generation is another, and entire sanctification a third. Each 
of these is, for the most part, feeble in its beginning, and 
strengthens by degrees. Conviction of sin may now and then 
be sudden and overpowering, as it was in Paul and Gardner ; 
but in such cases the work is extraordinary. The history of 
the Church affords comparatively few such scenes as that of 
Pentecost. Revivals of religion are generally under forms more 
gentle, in which the Spirit is distilled " like the dew," rather 
than sent forth like a "mighty rushing wind." In a large 
majority of instances the election of the soul to life has been 
through a "strait gate and a narrow way" — a way which cost 
the earnest struggles of days or weeks of agony. 

And what is true of conviction holds also in respect to regen- 
eration. This is a distinct form of grace, radically different 
from conviction of sin, as it involves spiritual life, and not 
merely a struggle after life ; but this life is first feeble. Yet by- 
laying aside " all malice and guile," and, " as new-born babes, 
desiring the sincere milk of the word," it becomes a growing 
life, in which all the graces of the Spirit advance toward 
maturity. 

Somewhere in this progress the third state obtains, which 
though gradually approached, is instantaneously bestowed. 



BAPTISM OF FIRE. 



99 



This is known to some as the "assurance of hope," and to 
others as "perfect love," or "entire sanctification." The last 
two are scriptural designations of the state. The former, " per- 
fect love," is used by the "beloved disciple" in his first general 
epistle : " perfect love casteth out fear." " Entire sanctification" 
is a phrase authorized by this language of Paul, in Thessaloni- 
ans : " And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly ;" that 
is, " entirely." That this perfect love, or entire sanctification, 
is specifically a new state, and not the mere improvement of a 
former state or of regeneration, is plainly inferred from the 
Bible. Regeneration is like breaking up the fallow ground 
and sowing it with wheat, in the growth of which there often 
spring up tares. It is a mixed moral state. Sanctification is 
like weeding the soil, or gathering the tares and burning them, 
so that nothing remains to grow there but the good seed. 
Connected with this illustration, the growth of the soul in the 
graces of regeneration and of sanctification will be easily under- 
stood. In regeneration a spiritual growth is like the slow 
progress of the wheat, choked and made sickly by the inter- 
mingling weeds. The wheat represents the graces of religion, 
and the weeds our remaining corruptions. These, while they 
remain, are always in the way of the former. Entire sanctifica- 
tion removes them, roots them out of the heart, and leaves it a 
pure moral soil. Then the graces of the • Spirit have an unin- 
terrupted growth, except as the violence of Satan's temptations, 
like a tempest on a desolated field, may interpose. 

Growth in sanctification may be illustrated thus : the weeds 
being uprooted from the field, there still remain certain methods 
of improvement. Que is by enriching the soil. This is the priv- 
ilege of the moral husbandman. When the Holy Ghost has 
cleansed the heart, or crucified its unholy affections, we may 
enrich the soil by the acquisition of knowledge. The heart is 
cleansed by faith in the blood of Christ ; but we are exhorted 
to add to our faith virtue, or strength, and knowledge. Another 
method of growth is to mature the spiritual crop. The field 
may be cleared of weeds while the tender blade is springing up, 
and months will be necessary to grow the grain. So the heart 
may be cleansed from sin while our graces are immature, and 



m 

100 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

the cleansing is a preparation for their unembarrassed and 
rapid growth. 

In 1842 the town of New Albany was favored with a stationed 
minister, Rev. W, D. Daniels, who was deeply experienced in 
sanctifying grace, having for six years walked in this light. In 
March of that year- Mr. H. visited that place to enjoy the privi- 
lege of a religious meeting. He reached the town on Saturday, 
and in the evening heard a sermon on " perfect love," which 
was followed by inviting believers to approach the altar and 
pray for that blessing. He with many others bowed before 
the Lord for more than an hour. Through the Sabbath which 
followed he had power with God, and much of the time was in 
a deep struggle for holiness of heart. 

On Monday morning he rose early, and, wrapping his cloak 
about him, continued until breakfast-time to plead for the bap- 
tism of the Holy Ghost. Hastily partaking of a slight repast, 
he returned to his chamber and fell upon his knees. While 
entreating God for a clean heart, his mind was led to contem- 
plate "the image of Christ" as the single object of desire. To 
be Christ-like, to possess "all the mind that was in" the blessed 
Saviour, seemed to embrace all good; and this became the 
burden of his earnest prayer. 

" And why do you not take this image ? " was suggested to 
him, "for he has taken yours. Look at the crucified Lamb. 
From his bleeding feet and hands and heart, from his pale 
features, and from every convulsed member, as from a thousand 
mirrors, do you not catch the reflection of your own vile image 
destroyed by the fall ? Why does the blessed Jesus there hang 
and bleed, ' his visage so marred more than any man, and his 
form more than the sons of men V Is it for himself? No, O no ! 
He is innocent, immaculate. It is for me. There on the cross 
he bears my sin, and shame, and weakness, and misery, and 
death. And why does he bear them ? To give me, in their 
stead, his purity, and honor, and strength, and bliss, and life. 
Why, then, not take his image ? Give him your sin, and take 
his purity. Give him your shame, and take his honor. Give 
him your helplessness, and take his strength. Give him your 
misery, and take his bliss. Give him your death, and take his 



BAPTISM OF FIRE. 



101 



life everlasting. Nay, yours he already has. There they are, 
bruising him and putting him to grief ! Nothing remains but 
that you take his in exchange. Make haste ! Now, just now, 
he freely offers you all, and urges all upon your instant 
acceptance." 

All at once he felt as though a hand, not feeble but omnip- 
otent, not of wrath but of love, were laid on his brow. He felt 
it not only outwardly, but inwardly. It seemed to press upon 
his whole being, and to diffuse all through and through it a 
holy sin-consuming energy. As it passed downward his heart 
as well as his head was conscious of the presence of this soul- 
cleansing energy, under the influence of which he fell to the 
floor, and in the joyful surprise of the moment cried out in a 
loud voice. Still that hand of power wrought without and 
within, and wherever it moved it seemed to leave the glorious 
impress of the Saviour's image. For a few minutes the deep, 
of God's love swallowed him up; all its waves and billows 
rolled over him. 

But Satan was there. Quick and subtle in his stratagem — 
" Shame," said he, " that you should make this ado to the dis- 
grace of religion, and to the mortification of those whose 
hospitalities you share." He saw that it was an evil thought, 
and strove against it; but after a sore conflict it prevailed. 
He became silent, his feelings subsided, and he arose and pro- 
ceeded to the meeting-house, where the pious were gathered 
for the worship of God. His heart still burned within him, and 
his Saviour whispered words of holy comfort to his souL 

Though so clearly brought into the enjoyment of entire sanc- 
tification, he did not for several succeeding months at all times 
retain the witness of it, but like as the devoted Fletcher, and 
many others of similar experience, occasionally yielded to the 
tempter by refraining from unequivocally testifying with his 
lips of the great salvation, while the testimony of his life was 
not wanting. From this he suffered loss, and says : " For some 
eighteen months I was like Samson shorn, because I did not 
fully confess God's goodness toward me. But at the session of 
the Ohio Annual Conference in Chillicothe, September, 1843, 1 
made confession unto salvation." 



102 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER YL 

ABUNDANT IN LABOES. 

From the time Mr. H. received the full baptism of the Spirit 
his desire to preach Christ crucified was unquenchable. He 
was continually on the wing, going from place to place as 
invited by ministers in charge of stations to assist in protracted 
meetings, carrying with him manuscripts connected with the 
Ladies' Repository and writing his own editorial articles ; and 
in addition to these labors, preaching from five to fifteen ser- 
mons in a week, besides laboring at the altar and frequent 
exhortations, sometimes walking several miles to an appoint- 
ment, and leading his horse that he might kneel in prayer 
frequently by the wayside. The Lord so owned his ministry 
that, in the language of a brother minister, "All over those 
beautiful valleys in Southern Ohio are the seals of his apostle- 
ship." A note in his diary, November 26, 1842, says, "I feel as 
though I had come to the verge of heaven. I have had sad 
dreams, but am happy now, filled with weeping and praise. 
I feel like one who has been wrecked at sea and has got into 
the long-boat. Persons are sinking all around, and he clutches 
them by the hair. So I see souls are sinking. I feel in a hurry 
to save them And it matters not what I eat or what I wear, or 
who are my companions, for when I have rowed a few miles 
I shall get home and shall find all my friends there. I feel 
almost as though I had done wrong to remain at home last 
night, pleasant as it was." (He had not staid at home a night 
before in two weeks.) Speaking of the comforts of his home, 
which he greatly valued, he said, " When I am abroad I am some- 
times very uncomfortably lodged, but I rest very comfortably." 

As he was leaving home one morning, he said to his beloved 
wife, " I am hurried about my business, but I am perfectly calm 
here," putting his hand on his breast ; " there is a calm in the 



ABUNDANT IN LABORS. 



103 



depths of my soul. ' Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose 
mind is stayed on thee.' It is sweet — sweet to labor and to 
suffer for Jesus. It is well to pray a great deal, to remain on 
our knees half an hour instead of five minutes. If we would 
stay longer with Jesus he would talk with us. My dear, if the 
boat blows up now, you will know I am safe," etc. 

As a sample of his spirit and manner of laboring for the blessed 
Master at this time the following is characteristic. In the autumn 
of 1842, while engaged in a protracted service in the town of 
Ripley, on the Ohio, the meeting was suspended on Saturday, 
in order to prepare the church for Sabbath services. He rose 
that morning with an irrepressible desire to preach during the 
day. He looked down the river, and saw at the distance of 
some three miles a dilapidated village, mostly of log-houses. 
He inquired and learned that it was Lavona; that it was a 
most despicable place, given up to drunkenness and vice, and 
that not a sermon had been preached there in many years. He 
thought he now understood the Spirit's urgings in his heart, 
and said, " I will go and preach to that people." The preacher, 
Rev. M. P. Gaddis, and people remonstrated, urging that he 
ought to reserve his strength for Sabbath services ; but he was 
not to be deterred. It was again urged, " You cannot go, for 
there is no mode of conveyance." Just at this point he saw a 
brother crossing the river in a skiff. As he landed he said, 

" Brother S., will you lend me your skiff to-day ? " 

" Yes ; but what use will you make of it ? " 

" I wish to go to Lavona to preach." 

" Well, you cannot row yourself there. I will go and take 
you." 

As they neared the village Mr. S. said, "On the opposite 
shore is the little town of Dover, where there is a Methodist 
Society. I will leave you there, and cross to Lavona and find 
a place for you to preach and leave an appointment." He did 
so, and on his return said, " I could get but one place in the 
town for you to preach, and that is where three sisters live, one 
of them a driveling idiot, and one of the others little removed 
from idiocy. . . . The sermon was commenced with Brother S., 
and, perhaps, three or four other persons present, one of these 



104 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



standing at the door. Mr. H. said, "I preached with all my 
might from the parable of the Prodigal Son, and when I closed 
and stepped to the door I found another man who had been 
standing a little one side and listening. He said to me, 

" 1 Stranger, if we had known you would preach here we 
would have given you a better congregation. If you will 
preach here again you may preach in my house,' pointing to a 
log-tavern, * and we will get more people to hear you.' " 

Mr. H. promptly replied, " I will preach at your house to- 
morrow at two P. M." He directed an appointment for Dover 
at ten o'clock A. M. on the following day also, which he filled, 
and then invited the members of the Church to go over with 
him to Lavona and help, sing, etc. Returning to Lavona 
he saw horses hitched along the fences above and beyond the 
tavern, and men sitting on logs or whatever else they could 
occupy as seats, while the house, consisting of two or three 
rooms, was filled with women. He preached with great earnest- 
ness, and invited persons to give their names to the Church as 
seekers of salvation. One or two joined. He then invited the 
congregation to cross to Dover with him, where he would 
preach at night, and many went over. An appointment was 
also left to preach again at the tavern at eight o'clock the next 
Monday morning. 

On Monday morning the rain poured violently. Mr. H. was 
told, " You cannot go to your appointment. The sand is deep 
on this side, and the mud terrible on the other ; will roll up 
over your boots," etc. To all which he simply replied, " I shall 
go," and started. He found the worst apprehensions of his 
friends fully realized in the sand and mud; but he found 
Mr. J., the tavern-keeper, and owner of the ferry-boat, at the 
river awaiting him, and deeply concerned for his soul. As 
they were crossing, Mr. J. spoke in very strong language of his 
past sinful life, and of the harm he had done in that com- 
munity, and said, " They would not have been so bad had I not 
led them. Do you think there is mercy for me?" He was 
encouraged to look unto Jesus, which he did, and was soon 
after gloriously converted, and made a most exemplary and 
useful member of the Church. But as they landed they saw 



ABUNDANT IN LABORS. 



105 



horses again hitched all along the fences, and a congregation 
of men sitting in the pouring rain, patiently waiting for the 
preaching, while women filled the house, some of whom it was 
said had rode five miles on horseback through the rain, carry- 
ing their infants before them. While giving out the hymn at 
the commencement of the services, Mr. H. saw in the crowd 
Rev. Mr. B., of the Presbyterian Church, who had, as he 
thought, greatly misapprehended, and who certainly had greatly 
wounded him. But forgetting all but love, he seized him with 
both hands, exclaiming, " My dear brother, how came you here ? 
Come in and preach to these sinners." Mr. B. declined, ex- 
plaining that he had broken his buggy, and was only waiting 
till it could be repaired and must hasten on his journey. Mr. 
H. said, H Well, pray then," which Mr. B. did most fervently, 
and in a most fraternal spirit. From this time the two were 
ardent Christian friends and brethren. Mr. H. continued the 
meetings, assisted by Brother Lambden, alternating at Dover 
and Lavona, till Wednesday following, at which time he had 
received some fifty into the Church, who proved to be stable 
Christians. He ever spoke of this as one of the most interest- 
ing occasions of his life, often saying, " I would not give the 
privilege of such a season of labor for souls for all the honors 
earth can bestow; and were I able to preach would like to 
spend life in hunting up destitute places like Lavona and 
preaching to them." 

In an article written for the Repository he says : " Probably 
there has never been a period since time began when revivals 
of religion were so general and so powerful as now. They 
spread nearly over the Christian world, and they sway the 
minds of men in an unusual manner. It seems as though 
nothing was needed to secure the outpouring of the Holy 
Spirit but the appointment of meetings, and a rallying of the 
friends of Zion to the work of faith and the labor of love. We 
have enjoyed the privileges of attending some eight or ten 
protracted meetings since the close of the Ohio Annual Con- 
ference, and at each there was a glorious display of God's 
saving powert The result has been an addition of more than 
four hundred to the Church, and the conversion of a large 



106 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



majority of tlie young members. It is time for all who love 
Jesus to awake and enter into the labors of the harvest. The 
fields are white and waiting for the sickle. The ministers of 
Jesus should be active. Every energy should be enlisted in 
this rising cause. It seems that efforts to save souls are, 
through the ready aid of the Spirit, unusually efficacious and 
fruitful. What encouragement ! Seed now scattered abroad 
does not ' lie buried in hope.' It soon returns into the hand 
of the laborer. Is the millennium come ? Surely it is not 
distant. We are in sight of its holy and happy scenes. The 
light of a new day streaks the heavens, and the Sun of Right- 
eousness is about to be more fully unvailed to a dark and 
perishing world. Come, Lord Jesus ; come quickly." 

Referring to these editorial revival notices the excellent 
editor of the Canada Christian Guardian says: "This article 
was written by the editor, the Rev. L. L. Hamline, A. M., and 
while it is cheering to promoters of revivals, is proof that his 
heart and hands are occupied in the promotion of revivals 
too. While men of learning, intelligence, and taste, like him- 
self, are found upholding protracted meetings, and by doing so 
tell the Methodist Church that they are men-of-all-work, if 
souls can be converted, we have no fear for the influence of 
Methodist colleges in the states or elsewhere. The more wise 
a man is the humbler he should be, especially a Methodist ; 
and when those colleges send out men who cannot or will 
not undertake any work the Church has for them to do, 
the sooner the institutions are closed the better. In the case 
of the editor of the Repository, he must have many urgent 
and important duties to perform connected with his office, 
and yet he has taken from his days or his nights, or both, 
sufficient time to attend ' some eight or ten protracted meet- 
ings.' He sets an example we fain would follow, and cannot 
but wish him many souls for his work of faith and labor 
of love." 

From his conversion Mr. H. had almost wholly separated 
himself from the world in all public demonstrations, Fourth of 
July celebrations, etc., in which he had before , delighted to 
participate as orator x>i the day ; but now devotion was the 



ABUNDANT IN LABORS. 107 

element in which he lived, and for this he sought retirement, 
except when duty called him forth. 

Another characteristic of his religious life had been the 
humble views he entertained of himself, ever, literally, in honor 
preferring others, declining prominent positions and popular 
appointments, and shunning all responsibility beyond the 
simple preaching of the cross. He had all along dwelt much 
on the name of Jesus, but now Jesus was the life of his soul 
and the theme of his tongue. On one occasion, when very ill, 
he said, " I would love to get out and carve the name of Jesus 
on every tree in the grove " which stood before his window. 

M Jesus all the day long 
"Was Ms joy and his song." 

The cross filled his sermons, his exhortations, and his con- 
versations. 

As a sample of his manner of leading sinners to Christ we 
will give an incident : At a protracted meeting which he was 
holding in company with an aged minister, Mr. L., in a neigh- 
borhood of wealthy and respectable Universalists, a revival 
had commenced, and the work had been ridiculed by many 
with sneering words that it would frighten none but old 
women and children; but the power of God was there, and 
aged and middle aged of both sexes were brought to bow at 
the penitent's altar of prayer. At one of the morning meetings 
a very athletic man of middle age came forward, shrieking as 
he came, " God have mercy on me ! " and stepping into the 
altar over the railing, was seated in a chair, with his back to 
the pulpit. His agony of mind was so great that his face 
blackened, and his feet and hands were thrown so violently 
that men could not hold them, and no one could approach to 
instruct him. Even the old preacher was alarmed, thinking 
convulsions would ensue, and so the work be marred in the 
view of gainsayers. No one could be heard in prayer. All 
was noise, the distressed man screaming, " God have mercy 
on me ! " 

Mr. H. went into the pulpit behind him, and stooping over, 
said, " Brother Hiatt, say Jesus have mercy on me." It was 
some time before he could gain the attention of Mr. Hiatt ; but 



108 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



at length he caught the word, and began to repeat, 
" Jesus have mercy on me ! " Almost immediately he be- 
came calmer, and presently said, " My Jesus have mercy 
on me ! " and very soon he was joyfully converted, and was 
as loud in the praises of his Saviour as he had been in his 
cries for mercy. 

It will give the reader a nearer view into the inner sanctuary 
of his heart to enjoy the perusal of letters written to Mrs. H. 
and other beloved friends about this time. 

" My dear Meltsda, — I fear my not writing yesterday will 
cause you anxiety. Never be concerned at my not returning as 
soon as you would expect or desire. I am well in health and 
unspeakably happy in God. I have no words to tell you. I 
shall try to speak of some of God's wonderful mercies when I 
see you face to face. This morning between nine and ten 
o'clock I was blessed as never before. I was prostrate before 
God, and felt the Holy Spirit tracing the image of Jesus all 
over me. I have not a clear witness of the extent and nature 
of the blessing, but I can with mighty confidence trust my 
Prophet, Priest, and King to teach, purify, and conquer for me 
as he pleases. He is doing the work with amazing power, and 
I leave it to him, crying every moment, ' Fill me with all the 
fullness of God 1 ' 

" I intended to start for home to-morrow morning, and be 
with you on Thursday morning, but God is working among 
the people. If I do not come until Tuesday of next week be 
not troubled. . . . The Lord will bless you. I plead with him 
to do so, and often feel confidence. I will always be in my 
closet at nine o'clock A. M. and at five P. M. Meet me then. 
I seem to-day to see my image in its guilt, pollution, shame, 
blindness, sorrow, pain and exposure, all reflected from my 
Saviour, who took all my demerit, defilement, and hell deserv- 
ings, and gives me in exchange all his wisdom, purity, beauty, 
strength, riches, glory. O is not this heaven ! — to see myself 
as it were, with all my evils on the cross in Jesus, and to see 
Jesus with all his fullness in my own heart ! O think of it, my 
sweet child, till you can see Jesus burdened with all your sins 



ABUNDANT IN LABORS. 



109 



and woes, and burdening you in return with all his righteous- 
ness and blessedness ! 

" O it is an eternal mystery, but it is eternal truth ! Faith 
effects this glorious exchange. 

" Several have been sanctified since we came here ; some 
conversions, and from thirty to forty mourners. Congregations 
very crowded. Meetings at ten A. M. and at candle-light. 

'•Write immediately. God bless you fully and forever. 
May he give you courage in troubles, hope in fears, and bring 
me soon to see you in the Lord." 

" Ripley, Saturday Morning, October 22, 1842. 

" To Mrs. H. : — The work has not gone on very rapidly in 
the way of adding to the Church, but it is progressing. 

" I have been very happy. This morning we have no meeting 
in town, and I am going on a missionary tour to some villages 
down the river. Shall be back and preach to the children at 
three P. M. On Monday I shall return, and fear I shall lose the 
love-feast. I have this morning felt the power of Christ resting 
on me. Heaven is near. The Lord is so good that I can 
scarcely restrain my shouts. He is washing me clean. 

" Dear M., be instant in prayer. I never felt so assured as I 
now do that Jesus will hear prayer. I am in haste. The skiff 
and a brother to row it are waiting. 

" Brother Lambden is here, and will return with me. I am 
perfectly well. Blessed be the God of our salvation ! Amen 
and amen 1 M 

" Ripley, October 24, 1842, 
" To Mrs. H. : — There seems to be so special a call for me 
to stay here to-day that I do not know but I shall yield. If so 
I send this letter to inform you. 

"Eleven of the most interesting young people joined our 
Church yesterday. The best families are coming in, and prob- 
ably if my preaching was ever blessed it is here. The boat 
will be along at eleven o'clock. If I am not home sooner, you 
may expect me Wednesday evening, but likely to-morrow. I 
was exceedingly happy yesterday, almost in a better world. 
My heart burned like a living flame. Not quite so happy this 



110 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



morning ; but I will trust, and not be afraid. Such a day as I 
had yesterday might be expected to be followed by some con- 
flicts. Satan could not see me as I was yesterday without great 
wrath. I preach at half past nine this morning, and to-night. 
I preached three times yesterday without the least inconven- 
ience* This is a dear people, and I shall bring you to see 
them if we live. I expect a good day. I am now going to 
pray half an hour, and expect to be blessed. I shall remember 
you and our dear Leonidas. O how sweet religion is ! If I 
can stay till Thursday say so. God bless thee my dearest one. 
Reports are coming in from the people which make me wish 
to stay. God is wonderfully working. I have a special call 
Tiere. I am happy ! happy ! happy ! God is doing wonders ; 
it exceeds all." 

While attending the Ohio Annual Conference during its ses- 
sion in Hamilton, September, 1842, he writes thus to Mrs. H. : 

"I am well and happy. Conference moves on slowly. I 
hope to return more blest than when I went. Our missionary 
collection was $425. Write if you can. I hope to be home 
Thursday evening. Bless the Lord, O my soul! Be holy. 
Friends and foes are all one. None are foes. Who can harm 
us if we be followers of that which is good ? V 

Again, at another date : 

"I am yet joyful in Jesus. All my soul is kept and saved. 
I am resting in God. The wonders of his love are shown me. 
I can write but a word. A great many visitors are here. The 
Lord bless my wife ! " 

" Hamilton, 1842. 
"To Mrs. H., — Yesterday was one of the best days of my 
life. I had no preaching to do. Except the bishop's sermon, 
all the appointments are filled with foreign brethren. Many 
are from Kentucky, North Ohio, and Indiana Conferences. I 
enjoyed the preaching of Brothers Dr. Thomson, Eddy, and 
Tomlinson exceedingly. There is more religion in our confer- 
ence than I ever saw before. Many are sanctified. Many others 
are pressing into the kingdom, and the fruit of this revival 
in the conference already appears. Ten thousand were added 



ABUNDANT IN LABOKS. 



Ill 



to our Church in this conference last year, an unheard of thing 
in all the history of Methodism ! I act with the trustees, but 
suffer no damage. My mind is kept in peace. I bless God 
for your letter. Go on, my lovely one. Draw me after you. 
Jesus will clothe us with the meekness of innocence and the 
strength of salvation. O we shall shine in heaven ! I seem 
near it. I have no waMng temptations. When I recollect, as 
I lie down to pray for spiritual dreams, they come. Last night 
I dreamed my little Price, in heaven, put her little hand to my 
mouth and I kissed it, and awoke full of rapture. O I feel 
happy to-day ! I know and care not who is stationed in Cin- 
cinnati. I have had a sweet interview and explanation with S. 
I love him and every other brother. All is well. Grover is 
very happy. Light shines all around us. Take care of health, 
and let me know if you are ill. I speak in missionary meeting 
to-night, and the Lord is giving me something new to say." 

" Hamilton, September 29, 1842. 
" To Mrs. H., — I am now happy. I have escaped nearly all 
business. They attempted to make me chairman of the educa- 
tion committee, but I declined. I have my dear Brother Ells- 
worth for a room-mate. We stay together at Mr. Smith's : a 
pleasant place. 

" Let us grow up into Christ. O my precious, bleeding Sav- 
iour! I hope to be with him forever. Brother Ellsworth is 
to preach to-night. I have requested him to preach on " Sancti- 
fication." He is a lovely man, and an able minister of Jesus 
Christ. 

" We are going on rapidly with the business. All the brethren 
are pleasant, and I think are growing in grace. 

" Thursday Morning. — Brother E. preached an excellent ser- 
mon last night. I exhorted after him, greatly to my comfort. 
I feel Jesus with me now. My soul is blessed. I feel a greater 
thirst for perfect purity than usual. I rise very early and spend 
an hour in devotion. It is sweet to live, and glorious to be 
4 immortal.' Jesus bless you, dear ! I have been praying much 
for you and L. I have a promise for him : ' I will pour my 
Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring.' " 



112 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



M CtxcrKKATi, December 16, 1842. 

" To Rev. C. W. Sears,— Not haying time to write on three 
sides, I will, with my dear wife's invitation, occupy one, in expres- 
sions of regard to you and our beloved sister, and in praises to 
our common precious Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who has 
loved us and called us with a holy calling, and has come unto 
us and brought the Father with him. ' Thanks be unto God 
for his unspeakable gift 1 ' 

"Since our conference rose on the 6th or 7th of October, 
I have by the divine goodness been almost constantly employed 
in preaching Christ and him crucified in Ripley, Dover, Lavona, 
Covington, Shiloh, Cheviot, Aurora, and Warsaw, in Kentucky. 
In these places the word of God has had free course, and more 
than five hundred have been added unto the Lord. 

" For one week I have been resting from these labors and 
enjoying the peace of home. My breast, which was much 
affected by preaching more than seventy sermons in two months, 
with all my editorial duties, is now getting strong again, and 
to-day I expect to go ten miles into the country and recom- 
mence my labors. I have been ' watered also myself.' God 
has made the labors of the ministry sweet — unspeakably sweet. 
I have felt the supports of his promise, *Lo, I am with you 
always,' and I have felt a divine energy while laboring in his 
precious vineyard. I have been loosened in some measure from 
sin and the world, and could say, 

1 Tis all my business here below 
To cry, Behold the Lamb I » 

I thank God in your behalf that he has put you into the minis- 
try. Beloved brother, let nothing move you from the ground 
you now occupy. We hear of overturnings. Let us go straight 
forward. God is more than ever setting his seal to the labors 
of our ministers. In this region nothing has ever been wit- 
nessed like the present revivals of God's work. Whether the 
millennium or the judgment is coming I know nor care not ; 
but God is come forth in his power among the people. Great 
sins rest upon the nation, and I am looking for great won- 
ders and for woes from heaven. But in the midst of all, as a 



ABUNDANT IN LABOKS. 



113 



minister of Jesus, I hear nothing but 4 Go ye and preach the 
Gospel.' 

"I wish to write ten times more, but have not time. My 
beloved friend, Mrs. Sears, will see a little extract from her 
private letter, for which I thank her. My labors are heavy. 
Can you not send each a short article on religion to help me ? 
I take my papers often into the country, and write between 
preachings. Pray for us. Let us be faithful unto death, and 
Christ shall bring us to ' see his face in righteousness : we shall 
be satisfied when we awake in his likeness.' " 

To his son he writes : 

" Cincinnati, December 17, 1842. 

" My dear Leonidas, — Your letter of this instant has reached 
us, and we were rejoiced to hear of your good health. . . . We 
think much of you nowadays for several reasons. The holi- 
days are near, and we are hoping that some method will be 
presented for you to enjoy them without sin. 

" Our protracted meetings are also in progress, and thousands 
on thousands are seeking religion in these regions, that they 
may be ready to die, and may be prepared for the judgment 
whether it comes the next year or not. Young people and 
boys are turning to Jesus in such a manner as was never wit- 
nessed before. The country seems to be all alive on the great 
subject of religion. Another reason why we think more of you 
then usual is, that we have, felt a most unusual anxiety about 
your salvation, and spend much time on our knees pleading 
witl* God to convict and convert you. Generally we are praying 
for you at eight o'clock in the morning and at half past five in 
the evening. Will you not join with your dear parents at that 
time in asking the bleeding Saviour to give you a new heart ? 
We often think that unless your heart is changed your life will 
be short, and sometimes, after pleading with God very earnestly 
to convict you, I think I may possibly hear either that you are 
converted or are dead. 

" I do not know that the judgment is near ; but I believe 
with Professor Bush, of New York, that fearful events are just 
at hand, and we should be prepared for them. But above all, 



in 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



death is near; our days are passing away, and we shall all soon 
be in the grave, in heaven or in hell. O that the blessed Jesus 
may prepare us for the final state ! 

" Why, my dear son, do you not say a word in your letters 
about your soul. Surely you may confide in your parents. We 
should not harshly and unkindly sit in judgment on your 
words. Think, L., that all other things are a cypher when 
compared with the welfare of your precious soul. We would 
rather hear that you have a serious concern about eternity than 
to hear that you have become the owner of the city of New 
York, or monarch of the world. Letter after letter as it comes 
from you we break with lively and anxious hope that you may 
have been turned to seek Jesus, and have written a blessed 
narrative of your conversion and your joy in Christ. We trust 
we shall not always be doomed to disappointment. 

" The Lord bless my son, and give him a new heart and the 
unutterable joys of religion. Your dear ma sends much love, 
and will write you in a few days." 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 115 



CHAPTER VII. 

ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE — ILLNESS. 

The year 1843 opens on Mr. H. amid remarkable and health- 
consuming labors. Neither editorial duties, failing health, nor 
the feebleness of loved ones at home could quench the burning 
ardors of his soul in proclaiming the great salvation. To Mrs. 
H. he writes, Hamilton, January 31, 1843, " Our Church 
meeting yesterday morning was excellent. Last night eight or 
ten mourners were at the altar. This morning the Church 
meeting was not quite so good. If the Church can be roused 
all will be well. The world will not be converted unless the 
Church is awake, and here it has been dead. I regret C.'s sickness. 
'Poor Ninth-street,' indeed! I pray God to send them help. 
S., W., and K. are wrong, and I fear the Lord will requite them. 
I tremble to think of a Church in such a condition, and minis- 
ters idle for fear that their popularity will suffer by too common 
use ; but I cannot leave here sooner than Thursday or Friday. 
I shall not be able to go to Dayton or to any other place for 
want of strength. My chest is only tolerable. I have enjoyed 
my mind well since night before last. Some misgivings, but 
many blessings. 

" I cannot, shall not preach for the Bible Society. This is 
my final answer. My strength would not allow if I were in the 
city. It is not likely I shall be there, not unless I am unwell. 

"Tell Brother Thompson to leave two pages between the 
Choice of Hercules and Miss B.'s piece for me, and two more 
after Miss B.'s. The rest you may fill with matter from the 
* Guide,' or ' Mothers' Magazine.' " 

" Lebanon, January 16, 1848. 
*' To Mrs. H. : — I preached twice yesterday from 4 carnal 
mind,' and 1 What is man ? ' an hour and twenty-five minute? 



116 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

each, without difficulty. "Was much blessed, but no fruit. 
This morning at nine preached on ' Without holiness,' etc. ; this 
P. M. at two o'clock from 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God 
with all thy heart ;' both to the Church, and prayer-meetings 
after. Two have professed sanctification. I shall preach to- 
night. My breast seems well I preach low, and with great 
comfort. I was blessed almost beyond precedent. Happy in 
God. I now desire your being blessed. 

" Brother Maley came in this morning. I go to Franklin on 
Wednesday. I will write from there. I must cut short on 
account of the mail. Pray ! pray ! pray ! " 

To the author of the " Way of Holiness :" 

" December 28, 1843. 
" Dear Friend, — To accuse myself of delay in replying to 
your most acceptable letter, and acknowledging the receipt of 
your books, will perhaps be a step toward pardon which I feel 
will be needful to my perfect peace. I know not how it has 
come to pass that I have not early acknowledged your good- 
ness, since your little volumes, used by my dear wife so dili- 
gently and successfully to stir up many pure minds around us, 
should have provoked my warmest thanks on my own account 
also. My opinion of the service rendered to the blessed cause 
of Christ by this publication you have already gathered. My 
favorable estimate of it is confirmed by its influence on those 
who have read it. It has been a blessing to several in this 
city. 

" We were anxious to see the book circulated, and in pro 
posing to write to you, which we have for several months, one 
purpose among others was to advise the instant transfer of 
some hundreds to this Book Concern. Unexpectedly they 
came. We have been speaking of the books since they arrived, 
and they are rapidly disappearing. 

"I suppose the article from Mrs. P. came to hand in my 
absence at the conferences, or not at all, and if the former, was 
mislaid. It would be an unmerited but most desirable favor 
to insert in the ' Repository ' some articles of your preparation. 
Having by some means understood that other volume produo- 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 117 



tions are expected from your pen, I have nearly despaired of 
such a favor. 

" A work of grace is in progress among Christians of the 
West. On the subject of entire sanctification a deep and solemn 
interest prevails. The instances are numerous of the experience 
of this great blessing. The treatises on this theme are studied 
with great care, and this department of Christian experience is 
every way inquired about, not only by the Methodists, but by 
many of other sects. In this state of the public mind your 
little volume is deemed by us a choice acquisition to the 
Church. "We will not venture to say more, but add our humble 
supplications for the blessing of the Sanctifier on the labors of 
your pen. Let me add, by way of religious testimony, or con- 
fession 'unto salvation,' that Mrs. H. and myself do humbly 
praise and glorify God for a 'deepening of his work in our 
unworthy hearts. And we cannot forbear to add that our 
blessings are shared by beloved friends, with whom we walk in 
increasing light, and with whom also we trust to be ' presented 
faultless before the presence of Eis glory with exceeding joy.' 

"In conclusion, accept our sincere thanks for your favors, 
and let us add thereto our unaffected congratulations that you 
have been permitted not merely to present a cup of cold water 
in the name of a disciple to one of these little ones, but that 
with readier hand you have presented (perhaps it shall prove) 
to thousands a richer offering, instrumentally a cup of salvation, 
refreshing, salutary in a degree not known to mortals, but more 
safely revealed in the presence of God and the Lamb. There 
may we meet and know and be known, for which we are 
assured you will join with ours your earnest supplications." 

The accompanying letter is addressed to an excellent gentle- 
man who had been imperiled by intemperance, and rescued 
instrumentally by anonymous letters written by Mr. Hamline. 
To these circumstances allusion is made in the early part of the 
letter. 

" Cincinnati, December 20, 1843. 
" Whether I have written to you before with my own proper 
signature I do not recollect. But for circumstances known to 



118 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



you, I should never have been covert in my correspondence. 
I am glad that your friendly letters open the way for frank and 
full communication. 

"You speak of autobiography. But for one fact I could 
never discourse nor scarcely think again of self Except for 
that one thing I should be the most ultra of all misan- 
thropes, and yet my man-hating would be concentrated self- 
abhorrence, while I should without effort look tolerantly on 
mankind. 

" And what do you imagine is the isolated fact which renders 
me often willing to look at self? If you were doomed to bury 
your chief est friend, how would you thereafter read over and 
over the productions of her admired pen ? As fruits and evi- 
dences of the riches of her mind they would be very precious. 
Now there is one, Jesus the Son of God, who is doing a great 
work among sinners upon earth. He is saving them ' by the 
washing of regeneration.' The enterprise was commenced 
upon the cross. In every believing heart he has written his 
law in letters of blood. All the regenerated are examples of his 
cross and the efficacy of his Spirit. I am an unworthy receiver 
of this grace. In my own renewed heart I read these charac- 
ters which his wounded hand has there graciously incribed. 
For this I love to look in upon myself. ' Every motion of my 
heart, everything in my whole being which does not bear the 
stamp of total, of ineffable depravity, is a fruit of my blessed 
Saviour's sufferings and love, and an illustration of his wonder- 
working grace. 

" In this connection I can bear to see myself, and scan my 
inward life in its most repulsive aspects. In this connection I 
can review my outward life ; for the efficacy of grace is not only 
evident in whatever sanctified affections I may possess, but 
also in the long journey by which mercy brought me from 
the Egypt of my bondage to the Canaan of God's love. The 
artisan's skill should certainly be judged of not merely from 
the excellence of his mechanical productions, but also from the 
material out of which he wrought them. He who from dross 
could produce a single dime, would merit more than he who 
should coin millions out of pure massive bullion. 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 119 



" You see now, my dear friend, how only the sight of self can 
be endured. It is a helper in crucifying pride. It can con- 
tribute to cast me down deep into the dust; it can aid my 
views of Christ ; it often helps me to conceive more clearly the 
love of Jesus passing knowledge as displayed toward one so vile. 
I am this dross ; yet on me, who am unworthy to crawl with 
abject worms, Jesus lays his hand of pity and of power. He 
takes ' my feet out of the pit ' and places them ' upon a rock.' 
He takes away my notes of mourning and puts into my mouth 
the song of joy and praise. Casting all my sins behind him, 
removing them '/ar from me,' he raises me up to sit in heav- 
enly places with his saints. 

" The song of the redeemed, eyen in the heavenly world, 
regards their lost estate on earth as well as their beatitudes in 
paradise. ' Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by 
thy blood, and made us unto our God kings and priests.' The 
Saviour's love and glory appear not only in their present emi- 
nence and bliss, but also in running back to what they once 
were, and in the redeeming process which sanctified and 
crowned them. 

" In the connections here expressed I have use for all 
my past remembered life. Let its history be graven on 
my soul forever. I never must, never shall forget it. It must 
and will remain in everlasting junction with the cross of my 
Redeemer. No, no, thou lleeding One, let neither time nor 
eternity, nor both, with their brief or lengthened cycles, efface 
from memory the past ! O how will the greatest follies and 
offenses of my life gather a welcome freshness from the future, 
as seen in the ever-growing light of a Saviour's cross and 
passion ! 

" While I sit in meditation on a theme so mortifying and yet 
so salutary, so self-annihilating and -yet so life-giving, connecting 
all with Christ's most gracious sufferings and doings, my nature 
is dissolved. To my consciousness existence seems naught but 
flames and tears, for gratitude and penitence do swallow up 
my being. And these very meltings are fresh fuel for the 
flames, because themselves are new instances of God's exceeding 
great compassion. He kindles up this life of ardors, or it 



120 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



never could exist. A threefold death is conquered first, that 
life may gain dominion afterward. 

"You speak of some 'concealed' grief. There is not a 
sorrow of my nature but you and all the world may know ; 
but would you know it, you must come along with me to 
Calvary. All my deep emotions are now kindled at the mount. 
My griefs and joys of any moment are blended with its scenes. 

my friend ! be assured that I am born into a new and 
higher life, which slights as insignificant the interests and sym- 
pathies dissevered from the cross. Can you understand this ? 
To know it well is the acme of all wisdom and felicity in time. 
'Tis climbing up to heaven ; it is ascending to where angels 
would, but cannot soar." 

From the Kentucky Conference, held in Louisville, Sep- 
tember, 1843 : 

" To Mrs. H., — Your letter came to me like spicery of love 
divine, or odors from the hill of Zion. I wept, and returned 
thanks to God. In return for it, I can say my soul is kept in 
almost perfect peace. Amid the 'contentions' of conference 
action, I have felt Jesus almost every moment precious. My 
soul is the subject of a most gracious work indeed. I feel 
much stronger and stronger. Little things that used a year ago 
to disturb my peace, now leave all the depths of my soul calm. 
The surface only feels the winds which blow upon it. I can 
say boldly that God is graciously finishing his work. O how 
blessed it is to wait and feel him carry it on ! We are blessed 
indeed ! O for a return of holy service and unceasing praise ! 

1 preached last night with great comfort to the Brooke-street 
charge. Text was, ' Ye are all the children of God by faith in 
Christ Jesus.' Gal. iii, 26. 

" To-night I am going over the river to Jeffersonville, where 
Brother Daniel is stationed. He commences a protracted meet- 
ing, and I shall labor for him more or less every day till I 
return. I expect not to be home until Tuesday or Wed- 
nesday. I cannot leave, as P. C.'s business with Swormstedt 
is on the tapis, and they will not release me. I shall be hur- 
ried, but cannot help it. Give them the printer's articles of 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 121 



reprint for the November number. Select from the ' Guide to 
Holiness' one article, one from the 'Imperial Magazine,' and 
one from Mrs. H. Put them on different forms, so that they 
will not come together. 

" I am very happy to get with dear Brother Daniel. Pray 
for me and L. I addressed the conference this morning in 
reply to the unkind remark of a Kentucky presiding elder. 
He said all the Cincinnati ministers had arrayed themselves 
against their young preacher, P. C. I replied, and while doing 
it, the blessed Saviour mellowed my heart and tongue, and 
I poured out on them the language of holy affection till a great 
melting seemed to come over all. The presiding elder came 
around to explain and plead his innocent intentions, and I re- 
ceived him into my arms and felt that peacemakers are blessed. 
I think they will not accuse us again. I have prayed for 
meekness and wisdom, and God gives. O blessed be his holy 
name ! 

*' How pleasant to spend three days in our dedicated home 
where Jesus blesses us ! Let us ' hold fast.' I feel unutterable 
confidence and sin-consuming love. My soul is sweetly bur- 
dened with joy. Now, as I write, it swells up in me." 

The following letter refers to his editorial duties, and explains 
to some extent his manner of laboring at its date. It also 
expresses something of his conflicts during the time that he 
withheld his testimony of full salvation. He was laboring at a 
protracted meeting. 

" Hamilton, January 29, 1843. 

" My dear Wife, — I preached last night to a moderate con- 
gregation on 'Ask and ye shall receive.' This morning, on 
' The Advocate.' My health is much better. I regret exceed- 
ingly that I cannot hear from you to-morrow. 

" Our meeting this morning was full, but the people don't 
pray as they should. Can you get the good sisters together 
and ask them to pray for us this week ? 

"Did I know you were well I should feel much relieved. 
My heart aches, but I am beginning to feel more prayerful. 
I fear I shall yet fall by the hand of my foes, God does so 

6 



122 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



much for me, and I so willfully let it go ! O for an escape 1 
Nothing but sanctifying grace will save me. For this, and 
for Hamilton, I am struggling to-day. God bless you, my dear 
wife, and help you to hear, and to do, and to pray, and to trust 
till we enter into rest. 

" Five o'clock P. M. — A good meeting of members at three 
this afternoon." 

At the Ohio Annual Conference, held in Chillicothe, 1843, 
Mr. H. was elected a delegate to the General Conference to be 
held in New York in 1844. In writing to Mrs. H. from the 
seat of conference, he says, September 27 : 

" Your letter came this morning by Brother Swormstcdt, 
and relieved my apprehensions in part in regard to your health. 
And it rejoiced me still more to hear that, intermixed with 
some disquiet, you had great comfort. The weather has now 
become so cool that I trust you will be permanently better. 

" I was not much sick in the stage. "We had M'N. and B., 
two members of Congress, and politics all the way. My soul 
was sick. We reached C. at one o'clock at night much 
fatigued. Slept at Madeira's, and early in the morning Brother 
Atwood was over after me. It is a superb place in every re- 
spect; all the elegancies of life, and religion to crown the 
whole. 

" Saturday morning my joys, which had ebbed all away on 
Friday, returned in full flood. O it was a precious day ! Dur- 
ing the morning I preached to a company of Christians on 
1 Blessed are the pure in heart,' etc. It was a holy hour, and so 
I believe all felt it to be. L. preached in the evening and 
I exhorted. . . . 

"It was a happy Sabbath to me. I had no hard feelings 
toward S. at any moment since we left home. Still I disap- 
prove of his course, and though I had nearly made up my mind 
to vote for him, I now hesitate. He is very kind, and his ambi- 
tion is a disease of the heart, which I can overlook, yet I think 
maturer grace is needed in General Conference. These little 
occurrences, with the undisturbed tempers with which I met 
them, greatly encourage me. I cried all day by turns, ' Lord, 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 123 



give others all the honor, and me all the reproach, only so my 
heart be cleansed and kept pure ! ' So I feel now. 

" The conference met this morning. I am on three com- 
mittees which will not require much labor. I had a peaceful 
morning in conference. A good spirit prevails. I think our 
session will be pleasant. We talk of having prayer-meetings. 
I hear of many brethren who enjoy, it is said, a high degree of 
holiness. Brother Phillips is one. I intend to have conversa- 
tions with many of them. Father Collins is here, very well, but 
feeble. Now may the God of all grace bless and sanctify us ! 
I feel great comfort in praying for you. I can plead very 
earnestly for Leonidas. It is now your class-hour. I trust you 
are greatly blest. 

" I may be able to write an article for the Repository ; in that 
case you will hear from me soon. I have been received with 
great kindness by all, preachers and people. Many meet me 
with very open hearts who once seemed distant. We pray 
much in our room. My companions are very pleasant and 
devout." 

"Fkiday Evening. 
To Mrs. H., — This letter was to have been sent night before 
last, but by misinformation about the Post-office it failed. 
Now I fear you will not get it till after the Sabbath. But by 
the delay I can give you good news, not that I am elected to 
General Conference, that would be a poor gratification. No, 
blessed be God ! it was higher, more glorious. Yesterday was 
the lest day of my life. All day in conference, amid much 
confusion and many tokens of uneasiness among the brethren, 
such as I am sorry to see, my soul was so filled with glory and 
with God, that I could scarcely stay in conference; indeed, it 
often seemed that I should burst out in shouts. It was a 
deeper and more permanent bliss than I ever experienced. 
To-day has been different. I have had very little joy; but 
amid still greater confusion I feel a self-command, a placid 
purity which I cannot describe. I do believe, my dear, that 
'God doeth it.' I believe he is now purifying my heart by 
the Holy Ghost. I believe he is giving me wisdom to see it 
and to trace it, and wisdom to discern the hinderances and 



124 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



the opposition to it. O blessed be Ms holy name! I trust 
you are well by this time. I think much, pray much for you. 
I want much, very much to see you, and praise God with you. 
O how we will bless his name if we live to meet again ! The 
conference is not as last year. I take very little part in it, 
except to keep my seat and vote, and read ' Bramwell,' out of 
which I get such sweet and holy thoughts as lift me up to 
heaven. Adieu, beloved. God bless thee ! " 

" Monday, October 2, 1 o'clock P.M. 

" To Mrs. H., — We are getting along tolerably well. The 
election, which was most of all in our way, is over. Brothers 
Elliott, Finley, Trimble, Raper, Sehon, Connell, Ferree, and 
your unworthy husband are the delegates. My election is one 
of the most unexpected events of my life. I can now scarcely 
credit it. My position alone was, I supposed, an entire bar; 
but I had left all to God, and I have one satisfaction — a sweet 
one it is : not more than one minute, put it all together, has 
been spent in talking of General Conference in my company 
since I reached Chillicothe. I did not know that one person 
was going to vote for me, nor did one as I know of expect me 
to vote for him. Thank God that he gave me a higher calling, 
heavenly and blissful, so that I could not find it in my heart to 
talk of elections or General Conference. You may wonder how, 
with so much opposition to the Book Room, two editors should 
be sent. I wonder also. But I will tell you more : I feel satis- 
fied that it is of God. This is the best of all. 

" I feel more and more that God is working in me mightily. 
He Messes me ! Saturday night I preached on ' Loving God 
with all the heart.' Sabbath, three o'clock, I preached to an 
immense crowd, at the ordination of the elders, from ' Our suf- 
ficiency is of God' — a new subject; and if ever I was aided 
from heaven, and preached with the Holy Ghost, it was then ; 
the house was full of shouts. 

" I shall, unless I hear of your ill health, start for Zanesville 
on Friday morning, leave there on Monday, and reach the 
Springs on Tuesday night; start from there on Wednesday 
evening, and reach home on Thursday morning. How pleas- 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 125 



ant it will be to see home again ; to see you, and in our conse- 
crated chamber bow before God. I plead much in prayer for 
you. God will bless us. He will come and save us. 

" I have conversed some with Brother . He is happy some- 
times. The election, I fear, worried him. He was apparently 
surprised at the result. Why they left him out I cannot tell. 
I think he has agitated the subject of salaries so much that it 
has greatly affected his own standing. They will agree with 
him when he talks about it, yet they don't seem to approve of 
so much agitation. They have reduced all our salaries this 
year, but we shall get along. 

" It is now near eight o'clock. I must start over to the church, 
for the missionary meeting is in progress, and I will be expected 
to give something. Having preached three times at Confer- 
ence, besides the dedication meetings, (I forgot to say that I 
preached in Mr. Beecher's church on Sunday night on ' Be ye 
holy,' etc.,) I take no part in the addresses to-night. 

"Mr. Galloway has called several times; took tea with us 
to-night. He was inquiring about sanctification. I like him 
much. He is frank and intelligent. I trust he will be a good 
husband, and have no doubt but he will be a happy one. 

" Tuesday morning. — I did not go to the missionary meeting. 
When I was about ready I felt so much the want of sleep that 
I went to bed, and slept from eight to five. It is the first night 
I have had a full sleep. I feel exceedingly refreshed this morn- 
ing. I am perfectly well. All is now. serene. I often feel like 
a ouming bush as I sit in the conference room. It is sometimes 
difficult for me to remain in my seat. All you say about B. I 
will manage as I can. I shall not trouble myself, but leave all 
to God. Submission in him is the best protection, waiting on 
God the surest defense. Where he is a bulwark there is no 
danger. Who will effect a breach in such a wall. I will fill 
up my sheet to-morrow. Brother Whitcomb and I have just 
finished our prayer-meeting, which we have each morning in 
our room. He is gone out, and now I am going to plead for us 
and for L. 

" Wednesday noon. — Yesterday was almost the best day of 
my life. In the conference room, with Brother S.'s good- 



126 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



natured jokes keeping up a constant buzz around me, I was 
calm and solemn as eternity. It neither tried my patience^ nor 
disturbed my sobriety. I seemed dwelling in love and in God. 
I believe God has sanctified me throughout, soul, body, and 
spirit ; and I am "willing all the world should know it. He has 
sprinkled me, and I am clean. From all myfilthiness and from 
all my idols he has cleansed me. This I first confessed in our 
love-feast Sabbath morning. At first the enemy thrust sore, 
and almost devoured me ; but the light is increasing. I believe 
this work was accomplished in New Albany eighteen months 
ago, and that I have been in bondage ever since by hiding 
' his righteousness within my heart.' I shall talk more of this 
if I live to see you. The Lord strengthens me. ' I live not but 
Christ liveth in me.' Adieu, my beloved. Jesus will perfect 
us, and keep us unblamable and unreprovable in his sight. 1 ' 



When Bishop H. was appointed editor of the " Ladies' Repos- 
itory," in 1840, he felt that his task was peculiarly difficult and 
laborious. Writers in the Methodist Episcopal Church suited 
to such a work had not been called out, and the Book Agents 
were unaccustomed to pay for correspondence. On these ac- 
counts he wrote largely himself for the work, and for the sake 
of variety often received articles to prepare which really cost 
him more labor than to have written original articles of the 
same length. 

The following notice from the Western Christian Advocate 
will give an idea of the eclat with which such a publication was 
hailed, and the estimate in which he was held as editor : 

" A layman in St. Louis sent in a list of some twenty sub- 
scribers. Traveling preachers, local preachers, laymen, ladies 
of every grade, seemed to vie with each other in encouraging 
the forthcoming 'Ladies' Repository and Gatherings of the 
West.' Letters poured in from all quarters in the West, and 
the sermons preached in them, the notes of approbation uttered, 
and the lists of subscribers sent in, gave full encouragement to 
the publishers to commence publication. Some argued that 
because the periodicals for ladies were made up of such light 



ELECTION TO GENERAL CONFERENCE. 127 



and trivial matter, a better supply was necessary ; and then the 
religious element had little or no place in ladies' books gen- 
erally, while others exulted that the most refined literary taste, 
as to style, sentiment, etc., would characterize the new ladies' 
book. 

"The first number was issued, January, 1840, and exceeded in 
interest the expectation of its most ardent friends. Few men 
possessed equal gifts as a writer with Brother Hamline, whether 
it regards style, pure Christian sentiment, literary taste, or logi- 
cal acuteness. His great powers, with small assistance, were 
brought to bear on the Repository the happy effects of which 
till this day are impressed on its pages. Mr. H. was the man 
that gave character to the Repository. He gave it form, and 
fashioned it after a pure model, and the result remains." 

At another date the editor remarks: "To the patrons of the 
Ladies' Repository we would say, that no periodical within cur 
knowledge has received more individual praise from the most 
intelligent in the land. We could fill whole columns of our 
paper with notices of the most flattering kind, penned by 
editors of the most respectable literary journals out of the 
Church." 



To witness the ever-glowing, all-consuming ardors of perfect 
love, as exhibited in the daily life of the beloved subject of this 
memoir, must demonstrate the precious effect of that doctrine 
to the most skeptical. With him holiness was seen in its most 
convincing significance — entireness. Though still held respons- 
ible by the Church cf his choice to his editorial duties, and 
more than answerable to all reasonable expectations in that 
capacity, still his one great calling was the ministry. A dis- 
pensation of the Gospel had been committed. To this solemn, 
awful trust, common with every man who has been truly called 
of God as was Aaron, he saw himself pledged before God and 
man. To this life-work, that is, practical and continuous efforts 
in soul-saving, he felt that neither editorial duties, nor any office 
that Church conventions might impose, could release him. 

Not only from the Church had he received an ordination to 
preach the Gospel, but He who baptizeth with the Holy Ghost 



128 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



had confirmed that commission. On him the tongue of fire had 
fallen ; and when the flame lighted on him, it did not only rest a 
on his head and inflame his intellect, but descended down deep 
into the inmost recesses of his heart. And there the fire ever 
dwelt ; its unquenchable flame inspired his lips, and while he 
wrote with pen of fire he must needs also with tongue of fire 
spread the hallowing flame. Can we wonder that so many- 
were pricked to the heart through his ministrations ? 

After this conference he seemed more indefatigable in labors 
than ever ; but though, like Moses's bush, unconsumed in fire, 
he appeared almost to have forgotten that we have this treasure 
in earthen vessels. And now commenced an illness which for 
weeks threatened his immediate dissolution, and from which 
he never really recovered. Hereafter we shall behold him oft 
in the heated furnace, and how gloriously the form of the 
Fourth was seen amid its flames our subsequent pages will 
disclose. 

On the 5th of January, 1844, Mr. Hamline returned home 
from a week of severe labor as well, he thought, as usual, and 
in this state retired for the night. About midnight he awoke 
with high fever, and other alarming indications of illness. The 
next day, Sabbath, he had three appointments to preach in the 
city, and rose at his usual early hour to prepare for the day's 
work. But before the time of preaching, Dr. Baker, a member 
of the Cincinnati Conference, (and a physician of experience,) 
came in to learn where his appointments were ; and perceiving 
that he had a high fever, said, " You must not preach to-day," 
and kindly offered to get his appointments filled, or to fill them 
for him. The family physician, Dr. L., was called, but no rem- 
edies proved effectual to remove the disease. After some days 
Prof. L., a particular friend, was called in consultation. This 
gentleman promptly suggested that the heart was the seat of 
the disease, and a third, Prof. "W., was invited to consult with 
the other two. After careful examination Dr. W. confirmed the 
opinion that the heart was the seat of the malady, but hesi- 
tated as to the peculiar nature of the affection. Ultimately, 
however, they all agreed as to the nature of the disease, and 
also in the opinion that all labor, mental and physical, 



ILLNESS. 



129 



must be suspended, or lie could not survive but for a short 
time. 

Of bis own feelings and joyful experiences during tbis period 
of Illness a loving band bas made some brief records, from 
which we will transcribe : 

" January 21. — Illness continued. At early evening Sister W. 
called. During conversation and prayer be was mucb blessed, 
and bad a peaceful nigbt. 

" 22. — He woke early and began to repeat tbe act of conse- 
crating all. At first, be said, it seemed a mere intellectual 
effort. Then tbe heart moved. ' A blissful day.' 

" February 7. — He said : ' Last night slept less than usual. 
My sins were before me. It appeared as though every individ- 
ual sin stood forth distinctly from childhood, from five years of 
age. I divided my life in sections, that I might have a more 
particular view. It seemed as though I had before only a 
general repentance. I had looked at my sins as we see mount- 
ains in the horizon, as one elevation. Now they appear to me 
as mountains must to an eagle soaring above them. He would 
see each distinctly in all its hugeness.' It was said then, ' You 
feel that you throw each as it rises upon tbe Saviour.' He 
replied, 'I rather believe than feel that I do.' It was rejoined, 
' Faith is better than feeling.' He said, 4 1 have a deep appre- 
hension that each sin has inflicted a deep wound on my Saviour.' 
During the day to Rev. J. Young he repeated these experiences, 
who replied, ' But you do not feel condemnation ? ' ' No,' he 
said, ' but contrition.' Not long after this Bishop Morris com- 
ing in asked the state of bis mind. He replied, 'I find by 
reviewing different portions of time as they pass — as the day, 
etc. — that I am almost continually desiring to depart. I feel 
as though I had been absent from home a month or two, and 
was very anxious to see my family, and bad got almost home. 
Not that I think myself dangerously ill ; only these are my 
feelings.' 

" 28. — To General Collins, who called to see him, he said : 
* I thought the other day, while my physician was kindly ex- 
amining me for disease of the heart, I have more reason to be 
concerned for his heart than he has for mine, however diseased 

6* 




130 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



mine may be ; and you must not think me obtrusive, but so I 
think of you, general.' General C. replied, ' I think much more 
of you for that interest and for that remark.' After his physi- 
cian suggested that he had dilatation of the heart, he said: 
[ My heart has often been dilated with divine love.' To Sister 
J. Y. : ' I do not believe there will be another history like mine 
in heaven. There may be as great sinners, but no one has 
treated his Saviour as meanly as I feel I have.' Again he said : 
'I shall stand in heaven a taller monument of my Saviour's 
grace than the rest ; not that I am better, but more unworthy. 
I feel as though I were sailing in a bark canoe over a sea of 
fire ; yet I expect to come safe to shore.' To Dr. Lawson, when 
he suggested that another physician be called in consultation, 
he said, ' I do not wish any other ; I am not anxious about my 
recovery.' The doctor replied, ' You have ties to life.' He 
said, ' I know of no one who could more conveniently be spared 
from the world,' (alluding to the condition of his family.) The 
doctor said, ' You have public relations — relations to the Church 
to detain you.' In reply, he said : ' I shall be much more active 
if taken to heaven than I can be here. The departed are not 
buried, but are much more energetic than we are. Religion is 
a calming influence, but imparts an amazing energy. When 
under its influence I have felt as though I could never get 
weary in preaching.' His general expressions were such as the 
following : ' All is right ;' ' I do not care what is my disease, 
Jesus knows and that is enough.' At night, ' Perhaps He will 
take me before morning ;' and in the morning, ' Perhaps he will 
take me before night.' ' What a Saviour ! O wonderful ! won- 
derful that he will take such a heart ! 1 

"March 3. — Sabbath he lay on the sofa. His countenance 
was observed to be placid, almost smiling. Presently he made 
a singular noise. On being awakened, he exclaimed: 'O let 
me sleep, dear ! I was dreaming of a text.' When asked ' What 
text ? ' he replied, 1 " He is able to save to the uttermost," and I 
was trying to shout.' 

u On Saturday, March 16, Dr. W. was called in to examine 
him with the stethoscope. Decided that his heart was seriously 
diseased. Afterward Brother S., who was present at the exam- 



ILLNESS. 



131 



ination, and had been conversing with the physician, came in. 
He said, ' I told Dr. W. that you had been in the habit of 
preaching five sermons in a day. He looked astonished at 
this.' Mr. H. said, 'I am not sorry I did so.' Brother S. 
said, 1 But that was living too fast.' Mr. H. replied, ' But it 
was sweet living, and if I die now, I am glad I worked while I 
could.' 

" On Sabbath morning, the 17th, he stood looking out at the 
window. Remarked, 'It is pleasant to look out upon these 
things, upon which after a little while I shall look no more 
with these eyes.' Then said, ' The thought of so wonderfully 
changing one's mode of living is very exciting. To leave so 
many friends behind, to go to meet so many who have gone 
before. To leave so many saints struggling on their way, and 
so many who are not struggling, and so many sinners to be saved.' 

" A little while after he said, ' Could I to-day be introduced 
to a thousand of those who have gone before in Wesley Chapel; 
could I see Jesus in the pulpit, and the apostles sitting in the 
altar, and Wesley and Fletcher and Guion and Hester Ann 
Rogers and their companions in another circle, and so on; 
could I spend the day with them and hear them speak in the 
order of love-feast — their experiences — the Saviour first uttering 
words of wisdom, and then hear Abraham tell of Isaac, and of 
his feelings when he offered him up ; with what wonder should 
I gaze upon their faces, that is if they were in the body and 
had never died. I hope soon to see them, and spend not a 
day, but an eternity with them.' Mrs. H. said, ' Your unusual 
calmness, and the manner in which you have regarded death, 
has ever since you were ill made me feel that your condition 
was that of serious disease.' He replied, ' That calmness dees 
not always precede death. Hezekiah was greatly troubled at 
death.' ' True,' she said, 1 but he did not live under the 
Christian dispensation.' He rejoined, 'I could not ask for 
fifteen years to be added to my life, nor for five months, nor 
five weeks;' and then as his joy increased in the hope of 
heaven near, he said, - I feel as though it would be easy for me 
to enter upon the song, " Worthy is the Lamb ;" my lips feel as 
though used to it.' 



132 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" In the afternoon he said : 'It is a precious Sabbath to me. I 
feel like Columbus and his crew when they got in sight of 
land. My soul sings a Te Deum.' 1 The doctor coming in, said 
he might recover, and was not in sight of land. In allusion to 
this remark, Mr. H. said, ' Then it is only mountains of fog I 
see ; but as an eagle stirreth up her nest, and hovereth over 
her young, so the Lord stirreth me up and teacheth me to 
fly, and I think he will soon burst my cage and let me soar. I 
feel as though my soul had wings.' A little after he safcd, ' I 
should think the moral feelings would affect the heart [mean- 
ing physically] they are so intense. My heart trembles with 
the love of Jesus. It is a weight upon my heart.' 

"At another time he said to Brother S., 'I do not care 
whether my heart be tmning to fat or stone physically, nor 
what ails it, so that it will answer to receive Jesus. This is all 
I want of it' Again, to the same, ' Choosing diseases is like 
going into a flower-garden ; one can hardly tell which to select, 
all being so beautiful, so they release me from earth.' 

" Monday, 18. — At night to Sister Young he said, 1 My life has 
been one of great mercy ; my sins have been great, and it has 
required great grace to pardon them. It will be very delight- 
ful to cast my crown at his feet and cry, " Worthy is the Lamb," 
but I don't know what he will do with me in heaven. I feel 
as though he would place me away in some corner, so un- 
worthy ; but I sometimes think that grace has done so much 
for me that I shall stand out a monument to show what Jesus 
can do for sinners.' 

At another time, " I am on a bed of roses. All is right ! all 
is right ! " 

The convalescence of Mr. H. was slow, and he now supposed 
he would not be expected to attend the approaching General 
Conference, and prepared as early as possible for leisure and 
traveling, in hope of relief from the faintness and partial pa- 
ralysis from which he continually suffered. He could not speak 
above a whisper, and much of the time could not endure the 
presence of any number of persons in his room ; but the Ohio 
delegation declined to release him, and urged that they desired 
his presence at the conference in New York, where they could 



ILLNESS. 



133 



consult together. He replied, " I may not commit suicide, and 
my physician says that to go will be death ; but at the call of 
the Church I am willing to go even unto death." 

His brethren of the delegation assured him of every possible 
care and assistance, which pledge was most faithfully redeemed, 
and he decided to attempt the journey, bearing with him this 
written protest : 

" Cincinnati, March 25, 1844. 

" Eev. L. L. Hamline : 

" Dear Snt, — In reply to the question propounded to your 
medical advisers as to your ability to attend General Confer- 
ence in May next, we reply as follows : 

" As already stated to you, we are of opinion that your dis- 
ease is an organic affection of the heart; to remedy which, if 
that can be accomplished, a regular and persistent course of 
medicine is necessary, together with proper exercise, and a 
suspension of your ordinary labors. 

" "We consider it not only detrimental, but absolutely pre- 
cluding the possibility of a cure, to continue engagements 
which will require great mental exertions, with but little 
physical exercise. In addition to this we would say that 
public speaking, or confinement to a crowded assembly, would 
be peculiarly injurious, and hence we have no hesitation in 
saying that an attendance upon General Conference, either as a 
debater or silent member, would prove highly detrimental, and 
might increase the affection beyond the control of remedies. 
Our opinions, therefore, are positive and clear that you cannot 
with any degree of safety go to conference as a member. 
" Very respectfully, L. M. Lamson, 

Hi Wobcestek, 
S. A. Latta." 



134 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



CHAPTER VIII 

ELECTION" TO THE EPISCOPACY. 

We question whether the Church militant has ever witnessed, 
since the days of the self-sacrificing Paul, a more marked exem- 
plification of affectionate devotion to her interests, than we 
trace in the beloved subject of our memoir. 

What a manifestation do we behold in all the future of Mr. 
H.'s life, of the Christ-like spirit that moved the holy Paul to 
say in sympathy with his divine Master, " Neither count I my 
life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy 
and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to 
testify of the Gospel of the grace of God." In answer to the call 
of the Church, whose doctrines and usages he ever revered as 
eminently scriptural, he left his sick room, though his health 
was still in a most critical state, and accompanied his brethren 
of the delegation to the General Conference about to commence 
in New York. 

While on his journey he writes to the ever-loving sharer in 
all his solicitudes at home or abroad : " Ohio River, nine miles 
below Wheeling. — We have had a delightful voyage so far, and I 
am better than when I left. All is well. The brethren are 
kind and affectionate, and I have felt well in my mind. I pray 
for you at the time appointed, and doubt not you pray for me. 
I sleep well, better than before I started. I would write more, 
but the boat jars so I cannot. I leave this at Wheeling, and it 
will reach you, I trust, Monday morning. The Lord bless 
my dear Melinda. Pray much for me." 

On his arrival in New York he writes : 

"My dear Melinda, — God has blessed me in every way. 
I am at Dr. P.'s, in the best place for me in the city. A large 
beautiful room and spacious bed for you and myself but you 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



135 



are not here. Mrs. P. says she shall write for you to come, but 
the plain indications of Providence are that you do not come 
now. My health was affected by my last crowded night on the 
canal; but the sweet family where I stayed in Philadelphia 
cured me almost, and now, finding Dr. P. stands very high as 
a physician, I have given myself up to him. He gave me a 
substitute for blue pill last night which operated as a charm. 
God has wonderfully revived me in heart, and yesterday in 
Sister P.'s meeting for holiness I was enabled to give a testi- 
mony for Jesus. I am full of praises. I shall write often, and 
a narrative will come for the Repository. I am now, (nine 
o'clock,) May 1, going to see the conference opened. God is 
with me. I am happy. Not a temptation but once since I left 
home. Glory to God ! " 

" New Yoek, May 6, 1844. 
" To Mks. H. : — On Saturday I went with Sister P. forty-five 
miles up the Hudson, opposite to Peekskill, to spend the Sab- 
bath with her sister, Mrs. Lankford, an Israelite indeed. Pro- 
fessor had paid her two visits, and ever blessed God, as 

I am informed, that he saw her face. I feel like going back 
again and spending another Sabbath with her. I intend to 
give an account of my visit in the Repository, but cannot do it 
now, nor tell you much about it. It was indeed a holy day, 
and time fled on swift pinions while we talked of holiness, felt 
its power, prayed for nearer and fuller communion with 
God, and were drawn in a wonderful and unforgotten manner 
to Christ. . . . We returned on Monday evening, and as we 
finished so heavenly an excursion, I thought how would my 
dear M. have enjoyed it. I almost felt sorrowful that I should 
have so great a privilege which you are denied. I also thought 
of our beloved Sister Neff, whose sanctified heart is always 
kindling up at the sight of the good and pure, and to hear the 
chastened accents of their voice. What an addition it would 
have been to my jubilee to have shared it with you both ! but 
we shall share an eternal heaven, and be with Jesus always. I 
am still better. I trust I am gradually but slowly improving. 
I sit in conference now most of the time, but we have only one 
session, from half past eight to one o'clock. I can walk a mile 



136 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



without much inconvenience. I cannot use my voice. A little 
conversation still affects me. There is a singular difficulty in 
this respect, and I see but little improvement. I exhorted 
about three minutes in Pittsburgh, and about five minutes in a 
prayer-meeting last Sabbath evening. Have been to church 
twice only, and to two small meetings since I left home. 

" Two o'clock P. M. I dropped my pen for dinner, and now 
resume it. Brother and Sister King are here, two lovely spirits. 
"We are a happy family. Sister P. modestly leads in every- 
thing. . . . O that some of our Methodist doctors were like 
him ! He takes me every morning in his chaise to the confer- 
ence room, and I seem blessed as I ride along. 

" Bless God for his mercy. I am growing in grace. I feel 
his blood applied. I rejoice in what he is doing for you. O 
may we meet in Christ ! We shall I think. 

"Sister P. is full of love for you. She is all you could 
expect, especially after an acquaintance." 

Writing to Mrs. H. on May 14, he says : "I am still better. 
Except for my voice and back, which troubles me some, I should 
not feel that I am much sick. I ride almost half of each day, 
sometimes in an omnibus for miles in a rapid manner, and at 
others in Dr. P.'s carriage. I sit in conference four hours with- 
out any serious difficulty. Yesterday, for the first time, I spoke 
five minutes." 

He then proceeds to mention some unkind treatment received 
from a brother, which he (Mr. H.) closed by saying, "I can 
talk no more on the subject. I will surrender it all up to 
Providence." He adds, "The brother was troubled at my 
calmness. I had a delightful morning, sitting close by him in 
conference. I leave all to God, and have great peace in doing 
so." [The brother was petulantly opposing his being returned 
to the editor's office, for which he had been nominated.] . . . 

" We had an unusual scene in conference to-day. Dr. Capers 
and Dr. Olin moved to appoint a committee of three from the 
North and three from the South to meet with the bishops, and 
endeavor to devise some plan of pacification to preserve the 
unity of the Church. Many tears were shed, many prayers 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



137 



offered, a day of fasting appointed by the conference for the 
committee. John Early was appointed to represent the middle 
slave states, Dr. Capers to represent the south slave states, and 
William Winans the southwest; Crandall, from New England, 
Dr. Olin from New York, and L. L. Hamline from the West. 

"We met at three o'clock P. M. and took up the case of 
Bishop Andrew, slaveholder, (all the bishops except himself 
being present,) and labored till six o'clock to find some ground 
of compromise ; all in vain. We sit to-morrow P. M., and the 
conference will be fasting and praying while we are engaged. 
It is an hour of darkness, and I now think you will hear in my 
next that the Methodist Episcopal Church is cut in twain. 

"As the representative of the West, I stated that we were 
shut up to a naked necessity ; that the question of a slavehold- 
ing bishop was, to the western conferences, a question of existence 
or Turn-existence. You may tell Brother M. that I shall lie 
down to-night at peace, feeling that I have done my duty, and 
He at least will sustain me. 

" Wednesday Morning, 5 <? clock.— k. beautiful morning. Our 
fast day. I feel that God is with me, and I trust with you. 
Lord Ness ! Pray, pray ! 

" I think S. will become friendly. While I have such bless- 
ings as I now have, much as at the Annual Conference, I feel 
that God gives me a gentle power over him, and the delegation 
now propose nothing but my return to the editor's office. I 

LEAVE ALL TO GOD. 

" Later. — I have just received your dear letter by Brother I. 
It was good to read it. 'Don't backslide.' Get nearer to 
Christ daily. I feel more like dying for Christ than leaving 
Christ. God is taking care of all. I need only him on my side, 
I found it so in the Annual, and now it is so in the General 
Conference. " I am unspeakably blest. O how Jesus dwells in 
me!" 

"Monday, May 19, 1844. 
" To Mrs. H., — I had an exceedingly pleasant Sabbath yes- 
terday. In the morning went to Brooklyn with Brother Elliott, 
and had a good meeting at. Centenary Church. Walked back 
in the afternoon, having walked four miles, two out and two in, 



138 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



■without much inconvenience. In the evening went to Allen- 
street Church and exhorted fifteen minutes, and this morning 
feel well. To-day we have a heavy business, namely, to deal 
w T ith the slaveholder, Bishop Andrew. Oar ' committee of 
pacification' (or, as it is now called, of conference) could do 
nothing. Early on Saturday morning I called several old 
brethren (Finley, Bangs, etc.) together, and proposed that a 
man be appointed by each northern delegation (including Bal- 
timore, which goes with the North) to prosecute Bishop An- 
drew. It was agreed to, and a committee of twenty was thus 
raised for that object. They met at three o'clock P. M., and 
appointed five of their number to call on Bishop Andrew and 
have a free conversation with him. These five went to see him, 
but lie very episcopallt declined hating any talk icith them. 
They were Bangs, Elliott, and men of that cast. When this is 
known this morning I expect northern men will be ready to 
act. I do not regret he gave them such a reception. Indeed, 
it seems as though the hesitation of the North were constantly 
rebuked by some such occurrence. While our bishops and 
delegates are weeping in sleepless anguish over the distractions 
brought on Zion, he seems as unconcerned as a comedian and 
as tyrannical as Nero. He will probably get his due. I feel 
that God blesses me in all my efforts against him. 

"Three o'clock P. M. — Brother Elliott and I walked two 
hours this morning. The conference is over for the day ; ail is 
noise and dread in regard to Bishop Andrew. He will prob- 
ably be deposed. Woe to the Church if he is not ! 

" I feel still like giving up all to God. Pray for me. I have 
no temptations, not one except in spirit. Help me at the throne. 
Sister P. was much pleased with your letter, and wishes you 
were here. She is a sister indeed ! She is out at meeting, or 
would send love. Time is passing rapidly. I trust to be home 
by 10th of June, twenty days from this. 

" I pray God to bless you, my dear. O may we grow and be 
his ! I leave all to him. You must not write after the 27th, 
if you get no other direction. About the time you receive this 
you may send your last letter. Adieu ! May we be kept by 
mighty power through faith unto salvation ! 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 139 



Up to the date of this letter Mr. H. did not know that he 
had been named for the episcopal office. May 23 he writes 
to Mrs. H. : 

u This is the fourth week of our conference. We are now in 
the midst of Bishop Andrew's case. There is a resolution be- 
fore the General Conference to suspend him. It will doubtless 
carry. Much good feeling at present in the conference ; but we 
fear a burst of rage every moment. I think of speaking a few 
minutes to-morrow; but if I feel feeble, shall take it as an 
admonition from Providence not to do so. 

" Yours of the 15th has reached me. If your dream should 
be realized, I hope you will have trust in God and go on your 
way till we meet above. I am now as well as at any time since 
I left home, except that speaking in meeting a few minutes 
hurts my voice. I have no numbness, and only now and then 
a pain in the back, and that very slight. The conference, I 
presume, will hold on two weeks longer. 

"Sunday Morning, May 26. — This is a delightful morning. 
My soul is borne upward. I feel Jesus preciously near, and all 
is well. I have great confidence in his ruling and overruling 
all things. I have much joy in committing to him the Church 
and its interests. I have great comfort in committing myself 
and family to his gracious care. I have greater comfort in 
him. I feel that I dwell in him. He is my habitation, my 
tower, the rock of my defense, and my refuge. 

"Wesley Johnson arrived from Liberia last Sabbath night 
in very feeble health. I called to see him, and found him 
withered, weak, and, I think, near the grave. He supposes he 
may recover. His spleen is affected. He has gone home. 
Brother White arrived here last Friday and is staying with me. 
His health is poor. He is very affectionate, and they wish 
much you were with me. I shall not visit them for want of 
time. All well. 

" Saboath Evening. — I walked this morning with Brother El- 
liott two miles to the foot of Courtland-street, and crossed over 
to Jersey City, where he preached. Had a delightful day. 
Returned after dinner, having walked four miles without incon- 
venience. I have slept this afternoon two hours refreshingly. 



140 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



I will go this evening with Brother White to John-street, and shall 
walk two miles more. I go to hear Brother Hibbard, of Gene- 
see Conference, who, as Searle told us, preaches ' Sanctification, 7 
" I shall not hear from you for more than two weeks. Our 
conference will still hold ten days or more. You could have 
written on the 27th with safety. But I must leave it as it is, 
fearing that if you write after receiving this it will be too late. 
I will write to you as soon as the elections are over. At present 
Bishop Andrew's case takes up all our time, and will not be 
disposed of for several days. I hope to speak on it in a day or 
two. Pray for me. I wish you to give my love especially to 
Leonidas, and tell him that I intended to write him, but my 
calls are so numerous and onerous that I cannot. I will send 
him papers frequently. Adieu, love ! " 

"June 1, 1844. 

" To Mes. H., — I wrote you yesterday when the case of Bishop 
A. was pending, and now again to say it is decided. His func- 
tions are suspended until he gets rid of slavery. All but ten or 
twelve of the non-slaveholding conference delegates, including 
Baltimore Conference, voted to suspend him. All but S. in our 
delegation. He has been with the South in every movement 
since Harding's case was disposed of, and has given us no little 
difficulty. He will have his reward. 

"Immediately after the final vote we adjourned, and the 
southern delegates gave notice to meet in conclave, where they 
are now devising. They threaten us with lawsuits, etc., but 
their threats are harmless. They are impotent in their position, 
and we are on the rock. We have now until Monday to cool 
off, and then we shall do, I know not what. I am well and 
happy. Not a wave of trouble, nor a fear, nor a temptation, 
except to unbelief. These six weeks seem to me a constant 
miracle of preservation from sore temptations. I am dead 
indeed in some respects, as I never thought possible, and it 
seems to me almost as much as though I were in heaven. And 
I might fancy myself there also from the company that sur- 
rounds me. Sister P., beloved saint, has adopted mo as her 
brother in all respects, and like an angel of God's commission- 
ing, keeps to the pursuit and the enjoyment of Jesus, with 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 141 



whom she is so well acquainted. O could the whole world be 
as this dear family is, how nearly it would resemble heaven. 
Yet sickness would be here, for she is still feeble, though recov- 
ering. She has commenced a letter to you in mind, but her 
cares and home duties with all her company detain her hand 
from the sheet. 

" I will summon up all the courage I can to wait from this 
on without hearing from you. If I had said the 4th of June, 
instead of the 27th of May, it would have been better. We 
cannot close before from eight to twelve days from now, and I 
dare not tell you to write after receiving this. Your last letter 
has just come, and assures me of your health and bliss. I weep 
and thank God ! How often do associations come up to remind 
me of two years ago, when we were separated longer than now, 
and help to inspire patience under the deprivation of this. ' O 
for a song of joyful praise !' Pray much — much — for me, that 
I may be kept and ' be presented faultless before His presence 
and, if it please his infinite goodness, to you also. 

"I am expecting a glorious Sabbath. I could preach, but 
decline at the request of the brethren, so as to preserve my 
strength for the conference. My speech has called forth a great 
deal of congratulation, which was quite a trial to me, and the 
wonder is that it has not ' puffed up ' my vanity, and made lean 
my poor soul in all sweet and humble things ; but I am pre- 
served. They have proposed to make a bishop of me, but my 
friends shield me by pleading my poor health ; and I should 
rather be anything else within the Church (sexton, if God will) 
than undertake to be a bishop. 

"As to editors, it is expected, I believe, that Elliott and 
myself shall be returned. The two are divided, and the Repos- 
itory stands first, so that I cannot let pride plead against my 
return. The election will probably be made in three or four 
days. I will inform you. 

"I send a manuscript. If you think it will not do, lay it 
aside till I come. Rev. Laban Clark's daughter wrote it. 1 It 
is all fact — every word which may be stated in a note if you 
publish it. How my heart runs after you and after Christ, my 
blessed Lord." 



142 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

"Monday, 2 o'clock P.M., June 3, 1844. 

" To Mrs. H., — This morning it was somewhat trying not to 
hear from you, and I found relief in part by letters to Brothers 
W. and S., stating that you were well. I had a very comforta- 
ble Sabbath morning. In the P.M. was threatened with my old 
complaint, but Dr. P.'s homeopathy threw it off by the divine 
blessing. This morning an effort was made to explain away 
the meaning of our deposing resolution in the case of Andrew ; 
but it was laid on the table. A committee of nine is appointed 
(myself one) to adopt and recommend a plan, if we can get at 
it, to separate — they call it 'divide' — the Church. Strong 
southern men (Capers, "Winans, etc.) are on it and in favor of 
separating, and we shall have hard work. But I must stop and 
go to conference. 

" Tuesday morning. — I have had a good night's rest, and feel 
wonderfull} well, and calm, and blessed. I talk of preaching 
some time this week on ' Holiness ' in Dr. P.'s parlors, I shall 
have a select congregation. We shall probably be through our 
business by Saturday. You may look for me on Saturday week. 
If I come earlier you will be glad, as I shall. I now think it 
possible I may change my plan and come rapidly by Baltimore. 
"We may visit here next year if we choose, and I feel as though 
we shall be likely to do so. 

Thursday morning. — Since Monday I was appointed on a 
committee to divide the Church, as the southern delegates call 
it. . They have not succeeded, but there is a fair prospect. We 
meet this morning, and I have a plan ready which I suppose 
will go, as it meets the approbation of Capers and Winans of 
the south, and of my northern brethren who are on the com- 
mittee. Nearly all, north and south, wish to separate. We 
have, I believe, laid to rest all further action in Andrew's 
case. He has gone. I do not envy him his conscience or his 
burdens. 

" Last night the nominations were made in western delega- 
tions : Wright had thirty votes and Ames twenty-one for bishop. 
Swormstedt and Mitchell for agents, and Elliott and Hamline 
for editors, without a dissenting vote. Peck in the East for 

bisliop, Bond editor, etc. 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 143 



" I expect we shall elect officers to-morrow or next day, and 
adjourn on Saturday or Monday. I think I will, God blessing 
me, be home on Saturday week. I have an appointment to 
preach next Sabbath. I am nearly as well as ever. Can walk 
two miles rapidly without any inconvenience, and sit in confer- 
ence eight hours per day more conveniently than ever I could 
in my life. God has blessed me in all ways. I feel his pres- 
ence and love, and he gives me wisdom to act and control the 
acts of others as he never did before. Much business has been 
thrown on me, but he has helped me. I will write, if delayed 
longer than Saturday, again. If not, I shall probably not send 
another letter. 

"I heard from you yesterday by letter from Kilbreath, and 
thank God that you are well. O may we be blessed forever ! 

" I think the election of Editor of the Kepository, etc., may 
be considered as tolerably sure. I have to write a report this 
morning, or I would fill my sheet. 

" Tell Brother Young I want him to study out all the heresies 
of my speech, and tell me of them when I return. Bishop Soule 
don't like it; but I depend on him more than on Bishop Soule 
to say if it be not constitutional Methodism. I hope he will 
give a verdict in my favor." 

"New York, Friday evening, June 8, 1844. 

"My deab Melinda, — Compose your mind for a severe 
shock, which, however, God will enable you to bear in all 
Christian meekness, because God has done it. In a most 
strange and unaccountable manner your unworthy husband 
was half an hour since elected a bishop of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church by a vote of 102. Brother Janes, our Bible agent, 
was also elected by a vote of 98. I say, God has done it. You 
know what I mean. 

" I suppose Sabbath day will be appointed for the consecra- 
tion services. I am calm, and have been so much of the time. 
Till last night I thought all idea of my election was relin- 
quished ; it came upon me suddenly. I was able to commit it 
all to God. 

" You know now, my dear, that I may not come home im- 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



mediately. I may be sent east, west, north, or south, to confer- 
ences ; but if so I shall have you with me as soon as L. has 
finished his vacation. I have the hearty friends of a Saviour 
around me to cheer me, and my health is getting good. I feel 
sustained If possible I wish to get the opportunity to attend 
two or three conferences with Bishop Morris before I am called 
to preside. But I must send this letter in haste. "No separation 
yet ; I think will be. In that case my work will be much more 
easy. I will write again in a day or two." 

" Monday, 12 o'clock J/!, Jum 10, 1844. 

'To Mrs. H., — Yesterday was a day of holy delights. I 
preached my first sermon for five and a half months in Sands- 
street Church, Brooklyn, on " If we walk in the light as He is 
in the light," etc. It was a precious season. Preaching seemed 
to bring into my soul a world of gushing emotions, such as I 
cannot describe. This morning Brother Janes and myself were 
consecrated to the duties of the episcopal oflice at Greene-street 
Church, (in the presence of a great crowd.) and conducted to 
our places in the altar. My emotions were so overpowering 
that it was with difficulty I could answer the questions or make 
the responses. I wept and wept till I knew not what to do, 
and brethren around me joined in weeping. But O ! they were 
tears which, unworthy as I am, I believe were bottled up in 
heaven. It was a holy and delightful morning ; one of the most 
solemnly joyful I ever had on earth. I feel folly that God has 
called me to the office of a bishop. In my heart he has set his 
seal to the commission in a way I hope never to forget. I feel 
that I am his in deed and in truth. O may I grow in grace 
which now purifies, strengthens, and saves me. 

" Tuesday morning, 6 o'clock. — I sat in conference until eleven 
o'clock last night, making about ten hours of constant sitting 
through the day without much weariness, or rather with simple 
weariness without sickness. I slept soundly, and feel well and 
blessed this morning. I feel cleansed wonderfully. 

" The bishops meet this morning at eight o'clock. The New 
York Annual Conference meets to-morrow in Brooklyn. I shall, 
if God permit, attend it diligently, to learn my business, for 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 145 

you know I never was in a stationing-roorn. If I have to go 
east or north-west, I will have you come ; but I think I shall 
return in about two weeks. ' Be ye holy, for I the Lord your 
God am holy.' O blessed be God ! Much as I love you, and 
delightful as it would be to see you, the Lord gives me perfect 
patience and holy resignation. 

" Wednesday morning. — I feel, my dear wife, that God's mer- 
cies are so great and so many, that you will not be afflicted 
when I say that I go to the Troy Conference next Monday, 
thence to New Hampshire Conference, thence to Black River, 
thence to Oneida, thence to Genesee, thence to Michigan, and 
finish my first year's work in October, from which I shall have 
rest until the next July, when I go to Pittsburgh, Erie, North 
Ohio, Ohio, Indiana, and North Indiana. The next year Rock 
River, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and Indian Mission. 
The fourth year Troy again. I shall have six months rest 
yearly, unless some other superintendent fails. If you can pos- 
sibly arrange it, I wish you to be in Hillsdale on the 20th of 
July. In Baltimore go first to Mr. Coles's, corner of Eutaw 
and Lombard streets, who says he will meet you at the depot, 
if you write; then to Dr. Palmer's, No. 62 Rivington-street. 
We shall not be home until near the last of October. Now, 
dearest, rent the house as you think best. Consult "Wright, 
Swormstedt, and Kilbreath. 

" I know I need not ask your prayers. Sister Palmer and all 
the friends plead for me here. I am perfectly free (almost 
miraculously it seems to me) from the least temptation except 
to unbelief. O what hath God wrought! I am dead, and 
my life is hid with Christ in God. Happy ! Hapj)y ! 
Happy ! 

"To-day I attend the New York Conference with Bishop 
Hedding, who presides and asks my help; a great favor in- 
deed, as I shall be able to learn much about my duties before I 
start to my own conferences. Troy Conference meets in Poult- 
ney, Vermont. I am perfectly unconcerned about my health. 
Traveling is my health. I expect to improve by every mile's 
travel. I can now walk rapidly two miles, and feel an unusual 
vigor of body and soul. 



146 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" New York, June 13, 1844. 

" To Mrs. H., —Yesterday I made my first trial of the new 
duties imposed on me. 

"Bishop Hedding opened conference, and after a little, 
placed me in the chair, where I remained the rest of the day. 
I got along tolerably well, and hope by experience to improve. 
I was so blessed that I felt no perturbation or confusion or 
faintness, and hope that God gave me favor with the brethren. 
The best kind of accommodations are provided for me with 
Bishop Hedding, and I shall stay in Brooklyn until Sabbath 
night, whence I shall start Monday morning for Troy and 
Poultney. We have had some difficulty in managing the case 
of Bishop Andrew, but trust we have finally disposed of it 
right. 

" If you cannot leave home so as to meet me on the twentieth 
of July, it will answer every purpose to come on so as to be 
with me on the tenth of August. I shall then have attended 
three conferences, and we can meet at Albany so as to go on to 
Ithaca together. I think I would enjoy the journey through 
New York, and I trust your health would be improved. I 
leave that wholly to God." 

His long tried affectionate friend, the Rev. Dr. Elliott, has 
kindly furnished the following sketch : 

" Bishop Hamline, as a member of the General Conference in 
1844, was especially called on to take a prominent part in the 
case of Bishop Andrew. It is necessary to present this briefly, 
in order to have just views of the important services he ren- 
dered to the Methodist Episcopal Church in the decision of the 
case, and in the events which followed it. 

"In January, 1844, Bishop Andrew married a widow lady 
who owned slaves by a former husband. He took no step 
toward setting them free, but rather took steps to have their 
freedom placed entirely beyond his power. His becoming a 
slaveholder was not reported in any of the southern papers, 
and nothing was known of it in the Church in the Middle or 
Northern States. It was learned in Philadelphia as the 
preachers were on their way to General Conference, and it 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 147 



became generally known to the members of General Conference 
on their arrival at New York. The case of Harding of the 
Baltimore Conference was up, and was first to be disposed of. 
The Committee of Pacification — first committee of nine — ap- 
pointed May 14, must try what they could do in preventing the 
disruption of the Church. This committee, after several 
attempts, found they could do nothing. They saw that the 
southern members had schooled Bishop Andrew so effectually 
that he became their mere instrument in carrying out their 
resistance to the moral discipline of Methodism, or in failing 
to do this, their purpose was to divide the Church, peaceably 
if they could, violently if they must. 

" On Friday, May 17, twenty-two delegates from the free 
states met and chose five members, namely, N. Bangs, Charles 
Elliott, T. Spicer, George Webber, and another to visit Bishojf 
Andrew at his lodgings in order to inquire what could be done 
to prevent the prospective rupture. N. Bangs was chosen 
spokesman. But the bishop declined to have any conversation 
of any sort with the committee. He said if they had anything 
to communicate they must do it in writing, and he would reply 
in writing. As the object of the committee was purely frater- 
nal and peaceable they declined any such measure, and retired 
from the house disappointed and grieved. So deep was their 
mortification, that they parted at the next corner without any 
conversation except to express their sorrow on seeing their 
proposals for peace thus entirely frustrated. This interview 
occurred May 18. 

" On May 20 J. A. Collins and J. B. Houghtaling offered a 
resolution, which was adopted by the conference, 'That the 
Committee on the Episcopacy be instructed to ascertain the 
facts in the case, and report the result of their investigations to 
this body to-morrow morning.' 

" On May 21 the episcopal committee reported, and their 
report was made the order of the day for the twenty-second. 
The report states that they present the written account of 
Bishop Andrew himself. This statement of the bishop was 
received by the conference as a true account of the bishop's 
connection with slavery. 



148 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Rev. A. Griffith and Rev. J. Davis offered a resolution as 
follows, preceded by a preamble, ' That the Rev. James O. 
Andrew be and he is hereby affectionately requested to resign 
his office as one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. 1 This was debated during the day, and on Thursday, 
May 23, the following resolution, preceded by a preamble, was 
presented by Finley and Trimble, a substitute for the resolution 
of Messrs. Griffith and Davis, ' That it is the sense of this 
General Conference that he desist from the exercise of his 
office so long as this impediment remains.' 

" On Friday morning, May 31, Bishop Waugh read an 
address from the bishops. The purport of it was that they rec- 
ommended the postponement of the case until the next General 
Conference. If the ' embarrassment of Bishop Andrew should 
not cease the next General Conference could better decide. In 
the mean time he could be employed in those parts where his 
services would be acceptable. The object of the bishops was 
to prevent disunion, and promote harmony in the Church. 

" On June 1 the substitute offered by Mr. Finley was carried 
by 111 yeas to 69 nays. 

" While the case of Bishop Andrew was up, the following 
speech on the occasion was made by Mr. Hamline on Monday, 
May 27. Mr. Hamline said : 

" ' I do not rise, Mr. President, with the hope that I shall 
"communicate light" on the topics before us, but rather for 
the purpose of imploring light from others. It cannot be 
unkind in me to suggest that this discussion has taken an un- 
profitably wide range ; for many whispers within the bar, and 
the complaints of several speakers on the floor, show that this 
is the case. We have drawn into the debate many questions 
which have but a very slight connection with the propositions 
contained in the resolution. I would, if possible, call the atten- 
tion of the conference from matters so remote to the real issue 
in the case. It is complained that we seem to have forsaken 
all argument, and a call is made for our " strong reasons." We 
ought, indeed, to argue on both sides. And if I should not 
do it, I will, at least, refrain from addressing a word to the 
galleries, or to the spectators. 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



149 



" * There ought to be two questions before us : 1. Has the 
General Conference constitutional authority to pass this resolu- 
tion ? 2. Is it proper or fitting that we should do it ? The 
first question should be first argued ; but so far it has scarcely 
been touched. If we have not authority to pass the resolution, 
to discuss its expediency is surely out of place, for it can never 
be expedient to violate law unless law violates justice. I shall 
leave the question of expediency to others, or only glance at 
it; but I ask your attention to the topic of conference au- 
thority. 

" ' The resolution proposes to suspend the exercise of a 
bishop's functions on a certain condition to be performed by 
him. If I mistake not the resolution is a mandamus measure. 
Its passage will absolutely suspend the exercise of the superinten- 
dent's functions until he complies with the prescribed condition. 
The measure of power required to do this is tlie same which 
would be requisite to suspend or depose a bishop for such 
reasons as the resolution mentions, or in other words, for 
" improper conduct." Have we then such authority ? I shall 
assume that we have, hoping, if I prove nothing, to provoke 
proof, pro or con, from the brethren who surround me. 

"'I argue this authority in the General Conference, first, 
from the genius of our polity on points which the most nearly 
resemble this. Strict amenability in Church officers, subordi- 
nate and superior, is provided for in our Discipline. From the 
class-leader upward this amenability regards not only major 
but minor morals ; not only the vices, but also the improprieties 
of behavior. The class-leader, by mere eccentricity, becomes 
unpopular in his class. The pastor at discretion removes him 
from his office. The exhorter or unordained local preacher 
proves unacceptable, and a quarterly conference refuses to 
renew his license. The itinerant pastor is not useful in his 
charge, and the bishop or the presiding elder deposes him 
from his charge, or from the pastoral office, and makes him an 
assistant. The presiding elder impairs his usefulness on a 
district not by gross w«£feasance, but by a slight misfeasance, 
or oftener still, because " he is not popular," and the bishop 
removes him to a station or a circuit, and perhaps makes him 



L: : 




ei_ : gj. 

- • We vriH no"w inquire as to the bishop. In hi 
strong feature of UrtjwwBsm lost agftt off Is be 
11 >::ri:i 17 ulz_si_i :j 17 i_ii rei:~r — 

mij. szrii; w>:~ ire : ^isir. ii :: lii z-i-iriirj 

i ■■!■> 1 1 ■ linn I wIimmj i 1 1 P Weba* 

1 : n i :~ t: ;: rr~ m ^T- n:: mi izlt«:-= 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



151 



President, in oeing ; but I can conceive them possible under 
given circumstances. In Church and in State there must 
always be an ultimate or supreme authority, and the exercise 
of it must be independent so far as systematic responsibility is 
concerned. But is the episcopacy in regard to this question 
supreme ? Certainly not. The General Conference, adjunct in 
certain exigencies with the annual conferences, is the ultimate 
depository of power in our Church. And I beg to dwell here. 
For in the second place I shall argue our authority to depose a 
bishop summarily, for improprieties morally innocent which 
embarrass the exercise of his functions, from the relations of 
the General Conference to the Church and to the episcopacy. 

" ' This conference, adjunct (but rarely) with the annual con- 
ferences, is supreme. Its supremacy is universal. It has legis- 
lative, judicial, and executive supremacy. Its legislative 
supremacy consists of " full powers to make rules," as the 
Discipline words it. This is full power for quasi legislation. 
Under self-assumed restrictions, which are now of constitutional 
force and virtue, (especially as they originated in a General 
Conference, composed not of delegates, but of traveling 
preachers,) it can make rules of every sort for the government 
of the Church. The restrictions are few and simple. They 
embrace our articles of religion, the ratio of representation, the 
perpetuity of episcopacy and the general superintendency, the 
general rules, trial by committee and appeal, and the avails of 
the Book Concern. Beyond these slender restrictions its legis- 
lation is legitimate and conclusive, and within them it is so if 
the members of the annual conferences are consenting. 

" ' Now, Mr. President, in legislation the bishop has not only 
peers, but more than peers. In clerical orders every man on 
this floor is his equal, but in legislative functions his superior. 
Can you contribute the uplifting of a hand for or against a 
conference act ? You may not do it. The Discipline, which 
we shape at pleasure, defies your touch. You may not in this 
regard breathe upon it. You may not spread the plaster upon 
a patch which we ad libitum apply to its weak parts. If the 
conference by a tie fail to do what is desirable to be done, and 
(like the philosopher's starving brute, caught centrally between 



152 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



two heaps of hay) cannot escape from the dilemma, I believe 
it is doubted by the college of bishops whether the president 
can come to our rescue by a casting vote. 

" ' This conference has judicial supremacy. It is a court of 
appeals, beyond which no iDarties can travel for the cure of 
errors. It is the dernier resort not only of appellants, but of 
original complainants. You, sir, must stand or fall by its sole 
decision. If it err, which is not a legal presumption, its un- 
wholesome error is incurable, except by the vis medicatrix — the 
medicinal virtue — of its own judicial energies. Nor has a 
bishop part or lot in its court action. He is constituted the 
judge of law in an inferior tribunal, but not here. His lips are 
sealed in this august body, and except when himself is con- 
cerned, he may not rise as an advocate either for the Church or 
for an implicated party. It would be treason to do so. It 
would be a most offensive deed, like the bribing of a judge, 
or a covinous communing with a juryman. So naked, sir, of 
judicial prerogatives is the bishop in this conference. Every 
member on the floor wears the ermine, which you may not 
assume. Each of us blends in himself the functions of both 
judge and juryman, to which you are an utter stranger. And 
in the mean time you are liable, as I suppose, to be stripped by 
us of those other high prerogatives of which, by our counte- 
nance, you now hold investiture. You see, then, that as a 
bishop you are both elevated and depressed. In regard to 
legislative and judicial prerogatives, when you went up you 
went down. Your station in the General Conference is a 
peculiar eminence. Your high seat is not at all terrific in con- 
cealed or outbeaming power. It is like a gallery of disabili- 
ties, where as a spectator of tragedy you can do little more 
than admire or reprobate the piece, and smile or frown upon 
the actors. But, sir, such as it is, you and we approve it, and 
you would be as unwilling as ourselves to see your prerogatives 
changed by increase or diminution. You are high up and low 
down, and all (but yourselves most of all) are content that we, as 
we mean by grace to do, should keep you up and keep you down. 

" ' But from the legislative and judicial functions of the con- 
ference I proceed to its executive or ministerial. Here I may be 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



153 



approaching debatable ground. But as I wish to provoke 
truth and gather instruction from others, I will venture to 
advance, leaving, if you please, a bridge of retreat, if hemmed 
in at last to that discreet refuge. All will consent, I suppose, 
to the doctrine of conference supremacy in the two points 
stated above. They will grant that this is our ecclesiastical 
legislature, and the high court — curia maxima — of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. 

" ' But it has also executive functions ; and are these supreme 
or all-controlling ? So I affirm ; but it is for argument, and not 
with the least design to utter a mere proverb, or to impose my 
dictum on the conference. I beg all, sir, to hear and remember 
this emphatic disavowal. I proceed, then, to argue (having 
affirmed it as a mere logical formula) that the General Confer- 
ence is clothed with supreme executive functions. I will strive 
both to sustain it and to commend it to your favor. 

" 'First, then, the General Conference is the fountain of all 
official executive authority. It is the Crotcn River of that sys- 
tem of executive ministrations which flow in healthful streams 
throughout our Zion. I know, sir, that between this fountain 
and the Church members, who are the remote points of minute 
distribution, there are interposed several reservoirs of this min- 
isterial authority. The episcopacy is one and the chief reser- 
voir. The pastorship is another. The class-leaders are the 
small channels, through whom passes to the door of each one's 
heart in the class-room a measure of the disciplinary influences 
of the Church. What is objected, sir, to this view of the sub- 
ject ? Will it be disclaimed that the conference is this fountain ? 
Can you advise me where else than here executive authority 
takes its rise? Whence do you gather these life-preserving 
waters? From the constitution? That, sir, is a very brief 
instrument, and its provisions can be scanned in two minutes. 
Show where its authority creates the machinery of a Church 
administration. Does it provide one wheel or spring? It 
seems to me, sir, that like God in Eden, who planted but did 
not till the garden, resigning that delightful task to man, so our 
constitution says to this General Conference, Under such and 
such restrictions you are commissioned with "full powers to 



154 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



make rules and regulations for" cultivating the fields of 
Methodism. Full powers for what ? For two things. First, 
" to make rules." That is legislation, sir, as it stands related to 
other powers of the conference. But is this all it can do? 
No. It has full powers also " to make regulations " for the 
government of the Church. What is a regulation ? To appoint 
a preacher to a field of labor is a regulation. To remove him 
to another field is a regulation. To recall that bishop to his 
former station is a regulation. Now, "what a man does by 
another he does himself" is a maxim in law. The General 
Conference may make these regulations without a bishop, and 
leave him a less onerous superintendence, or the conference 
may make these regulations by a bishop, and multiply the toils 
of his superintendence. 

* ' That the conference has executive authority is indisput- 
able, for the bishop derives his authority from the conference. 
Are not answers first, second, third, and eighth, to question 
third, in section fourth, statutory provisions ? Do they not con- 
vey authority to the bishops ? If those answers were blotted 
out by a resolution of this conference, would the bishops pro- 
ceed to execute the duties therein prescribed ? This General 
Conference clothes them with these powers ; and can the con- 
ference convey what it does not possess ? Can it impart to 
bishops what was not inherent in itself up to the time of con- 
veying it ? The conference ha3 these powers. Everything 
conveyed as a prerogative to bishops, presiding elders, preach- 
ers, etc., by statutory provision, and not by the constitution or 
in the restrictive rules, was in the General Conference ; or it was 
mockery thus to grant it, and the tenure of these officers is void, 
and their seizin tortious. They should be challenged, then, as 
to their authority. Now, sir, all that this conference can confer 
it can withhold. And whatever it can confer and withhold, it 
can resume at will, unless a constitutional •restriction forbids it. 
It can resume, then, all the powers granted to a bishop by its 
own act, except such prerogatives as are essential to episcopacy 
and superintendency. As to the episcopacy, which we may not 
do away, the power to ordain is essential to its being; and 
whether, so far as it is concerned, the whole of section fourth, 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



155 



with that exception, might not be constitutionally expunged, 
is doubtful. Not that I would have it expunged. But I am 
now arguing the question of conference power, and not of 
ecclesiastical expediency. I love the episcopacy just as it is; 
and reverence for the office emulates in my bosom a sister pas- 
sion — affection for the venerable men who occupy it, affection 
for them all ; every one. 

u ' Here, Mr. President, let me say a word concerning our 
Church constitution. It is a remarkable instrument. It differs 
cardinally from most, or all, civil constitutions. These generally 
proceed to demark the several departments of government — the 
legislative, judicial, and executive ; and by positive grant 
assign each department its duties. Our constitution is different. 
It does not divide the powers of our government into legislative, 
judicial, and executive. It provides for a General Conference, 
and for an episcopacy and general superintendency. It leaves 
all the powers of the three great departments of government, 
except what is essential to episcopacy, etc., in this General 
Conference. It restricts us in all our powers, but not in one 
dej)artment more than another. Under this constitution the 
conference is as much a judicatory as a legislature; and it 
is as much an executive body as either. What i3 there in the 
constitution to distinguish the three departments of our govern- 
mental authority, or to bestow one and withhold another? 
The grant of power to us is in the mass, and no more excludes 
the executive than it does either of the sister departments. 
And that our powers are administrative, do we not declare 
when we demand at each General Conference the minutes of 
every annual conference, and by the " Committee on the Itiner- 
ancy M inspect and pass judgment upon them ? and when, too, 
the administration of our bishops is put under a severe inquisi- 
tion, and a committee reports approval or disapproval ? Surely, 
if anything could, this proves that the conference assumes to 
be supreme in administration, else why does that admin- 
istration thus appeal to this conference in the last resort? 
Why, sir, the streams of these administrative acts took their 
rise here, and, like running waters to the ocean, they return 
hither to their source. How unlike those of the President to 



156 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



the American Congress, with which I have heard them com- 
pared, are the relations of the episcopacy to this conference ? 
The Constitution of the United States gives Congress its powers, 
and the President his. Each exists independent of the other. 
The term, the duties, the privileges of the president are all 
fixed by constitutional provision. The presidency, as an 
office, and the incumbency of it, are plainly designated. Our 
Church constitution recognizes the episcopacy as an abstraction, 
and leaves this body to work it into a concrete form in any 
hundred or more ways we may be able to invent We may 
make one, five, or twenty bishops ; and, if we please, one for 
each conference. We may refuse to elect another untill all die 
or resign ■ and then, to maintain the episcopacy, which we are 
bound to do, we must elect one at least. As to his term, we 
may limit it at pleasure, or leave it undetermined. But in this 
case is it undeterminable? Certainly not. The power which 
elected may then displace. In all civil constitutions, as far 
as I know, not to fix an officer's term is to suspend it on 
the wil] of the appointing power. Cabinet ministers and secre- 
taries are examples. No officer as such can claim incumbency 
for life, unless such a term be authoritatively and expressly 
fixed upon. 

" ' I now reach a point in my argument to which I solicit 
particular attention. It has been urged privately by very many, 
that we have no authority to displace a bishop, except for 
ciime and by a formal trial. And they who advocate it tell us 
to lock into section fourth, page 28, and we shall be convinced. 
Well, what now is section fourth to us in a question of this 
sort ? That whole section is statutory. Were it a part of our 
Church constitution it might be invoked as authoritative. 
Mere rules as they are, and alterable by us in ten minutes, by 
two conference votes, they expressly recognize our authority to 
M expel a bishop for improper conduct.'' Why, then, urge any- 
thing in the fourth section against this pending resolution? 
If there were no express rule for deposing a bishop, we should 
still be competent to depose. And for this plain reason. 
Whatever this conference can constitutionally do, it can do it 
without first resolving that it has power to do it, without pass- 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 157 



ing a rule into the Discipline declaring its authority. The power 
of this conference is derived, not from its own enactment, but 
from the constitution. Is there anything in the restrictive 
articles which prohibits the removal or suspension of a bishop ? 
This will not be pretended, and of course nothing in our 
statutes can deprive us of powers conferred on us by the higher 
authority of the constitution. 

" ' Let me explain. Suppose Congress should, under the 
pressure of any causes calculated to blind or confuse it, deny 
its powers to raise revenues for the support of government, 
would it be bound by its own act ? The very next day it might 
proceed to exercise the self-prohibited power, and for this 
reason, the prohibition is by Congress, but the grant of that 
which is prohibited is by the constitution, which is binding 
upon Congress in despite of its own opposing action. So with 
this conference. Suppose the fourth section provided that this 
body " has not power to depose a bishop for improper conduct 
if it seem necessary." We should still have power to depose, 
because the constitution confers it, and that is paramount to all 
our resolutions and statutes. We cannot by our enactments 
divest ourselves of constitutional powers, no more than man 
made in God's image, and about to inhabit God's eternity, can 
spurn the law of his being, and divest himself of free agency 
and immortality. 

" 1 Now let me proceed after the manner of mathematicians. 
We have seen, if I mistake not, that a provision in the fourth 
section, page 28, declaring our incompetency to depose, would 
still leave us free to do it, because the superior authority of the 
constitution confers the power. Much more, then, may we 
depose if, instead of a statute forbidding it, the Discipline is 
silent on the subject. But much more still may we depose, if 
instead of silence there is a rule for deposing as well as the con- 
stitutional warrant. I do not claim this for demonstration, 
albeit I have chosen such a mode of reasoning ; but unless I 
greatly err, the argument claims some regard. Now, sir, there 
is a rule which many of us believe applies to this case in the 
answer to question fourth, page 28 : " To the General Conference, 
who have power to expel him for improper conduct, if they see 



158 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



it necessary." Let it be noticed, that in harmony with what 
I have said concerning our constitutional power, this rule does 
not convey authority, else the auxiliary " shall " would be used. It 
does not say the General Conference shall have authority, which 
is the style used in creating constitutional prerogatives. The 
language of the rule is simply declaratory, recognizing a power 
already existing. Let us notice certain phrases in this declara- 
tory rule. "Have power to expel," sets forth the extent to 
which we may proceed in our efforts to guard against the con- 
sequences of a bishop's improprieties. The expulsion contem- 
plated is doubtless from office. For though depose is the word 
generally used in such connections, expel is not less significant 
of the thing. To put out of office is expulsion. If any dispute, 
and say the expulsion must be from orders, or from the Church, 
we may answer, A power to expel from the Church is certainly 
equal to the power of removing from office. The child who has 
license to play all day, need not dread the rod for playing half 
a day ; and the boy who is told he may ride ten cannot dis- 
obey by riding five miles. That argument is hard pushed 
which resorts to the phrase, " have power to expel," to prove that 
the conference has not power to depose. " Improper conduct " 
means less than imprudent conduct. Imprudence carries our 
thoughts to the neighborhood of crime. It means a want of 
wisdom to a degree which involves exposure and harm. Im- 
proper means not suitable, or unfitting. The usus loquendi in 
the Discipline forbids us to assume that in some general sense 
it embraces crime. Whatever is unfitting a bishop's office, and 
would impair his usefulness in the exercise of its functions, is 
embraced, I conceive, in the phrase " improper conduct." In 
the Discipline it is used in contradistinction from crime. And 
it is never treated as crime in the administration, except when 
a private member, after frequent admonitions, obstinately refuses 
to reform. In such a case obstinacy itself becomes a criminal 
state of mind, and may procure expulsion. Finally, the phrase, 
" if they see it necessary," sheds light on the whole paragraph. It 
proves that improper does not mean criminal ; for then it would 
be necessary, and the condition would be useless. The phrase 
accords to the conference discretionary power, and invites them 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 159 



to proceed on the ground of " expediency," of which some have 
loudly complained. They may expel him, if they see it proper 
or expedient, that is, if his improprieties injure his usefulness 
in the high office where our suffrages placed him. 

" ' My mind, sir, (if not my words,) has all along distinguished 
between orders and office. The summary removals which I 
have noticed are from office, not from the ministry. In regard 
to ordained preachers, these two rules will hold. First, they 
cannot be expelled from the ministry summarily, but must 
have a trial in due form. Second, they cannot be expelled for 
tl improper conduct," but only for a crime clearly forbidden in 
the word of God. These rules, with few exceptions, will apply 
to private members, who may be removed from the leader's or 
steward's office at any time without notice, trial, or cause 
assigned. But they cannot usually be expelled from the Church 
without trial, or the offer of trial ; nor for improper conduct, 
unless it become incorrigibly obstinate, and then it assumes the 
character of crime. The principles which apply to members 
and preachers should govern us in regard to bishops. They 
ought not to be expelled from the ministry for " improper con- 
duct," nor without due notice and trial. But if others, they 
too may be deposed from office summarily, and for impropri- 
eties which, even if they be innocent, hinder their usefulness, or 
render their ministrations a calamity. That the bishop's is an 
office, is, I suppose, conceded. True, we ordain him ; but we 
may cease to ordain, and by suspending the conference rule 
which requires a day's delay, may immediately blot from the 
Discipline these words, page 26, " and the laying on of the 
hands of three bishops, or at least of one bishop and two elders." 
Would not this harmonize our practice and our principles ? 

" ' I shall not dwell longer, Mr. President, on the question of 
conference authority. We have seen that when clerical orders 
or membership in the Church is concerned, crime only, or obsti- 
nate impropriety, which is as crime, can expel. This is Meth- 
odism. We have seen, on the other hand, that as to office, 
removals from it may be summary, and for anything unfitting 
that office, or that renders its exercise unwholesome to the 
Church. I have urged that all ranks of officers are included 



160 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



up to the point where the officer has no superior ; which never 
happens with us, because the General Conference, under certain 
restrictions, is the depository of all power, legislative, judicial, 
and executive. I urged this fashion of Methodism as applica- 
ble especially to a bishop, because his superior influence will 
render his improprieties proportionally more embarrassing and 
injurious to the Church. 

"'I have argued that the conference has power, from the 
grant of the constitution, (which is a catholic grant, embracing 
all, beyond a few enumerated restrictions,) to try a bishop for 
crime, and to depose him summarily for " improper conduct." 
Is this hard on the bishop ? Does he not summarily remove, 
at discretion, all the four years round, two hundred presiding 
elders and two thousand of his peers ? and shall he complain 
that a General Conference, which is a delegated body, in a 
word that all these two thousand peers of his, whose authority 
converges through the channels of representation and concen- 
trates here, should do to him what he so uniformly does to 
them ? Shall one elder holding a high qffitt at our hands be 
so puissant that, like the sun in the heavens, (though he be a 
planet still, and in his office reflects no light which we have not 
shed upon him,) he must bind and control all, but is in turn to 
be controlled by none ? No, sir ; this conference is the sun in 
our orderly and beautiful system. Look into the Discipline. 
First you have our " Articles of Religion," in which God appears. 
What is next in order ? The General Conference, which, like 
the orb of day, rises to shed light on the surrounding scene. It 
is first shaped or fashioned, and then, like Adam by his Maker, 
is endowed with dominion and made imperial in its relations ; 
and, saving the slight reservations of the constitution, it is all- 
controlling in its influence. Let it never be lost sight of, that 
the General Conference is " the sun of our system." 

" ' I said, Mr. President, that if I noticed the question of 
expediency, it would be only by a glance. I will remark, gen- 
erally, that in determining what is proper, after having ascer- 
tained what is lawful, we should look two ways. As first in 
importance, we should consider the interests of the Church. 
Second, we should consult the feelings of the officer. And we 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



161 



should inquire as to the Church, how is she likely to be affected 
by the improper conduct of her officer ? Will she be locally 
and slightly embarrassed, or extensively and severely ? If the 
injury threatened will be confined to a small district, and will 
probably be slight and ephemeral, we may bear it. But if it be 
likely to fall on large districts and work great evils, producing 
strife, breaking up societies, and nearly dissolving conferences ; 
and if calamities so heavy are likely to be long-continued and 
scarcely ever end, the call for summary proceedings on the part 
of this conference is loud and imperative. If in such circum- 
stances she decline to act, will she not betray her trust and 
dishonor God ? In regard to the officer, it should be inquired 
if the unfitness he has brought on himself for his sphere of 
action was by some imperative necessity ; and if not, whether 
it was in presumable ignorance of the grief and misfortunes he 
was about to inflict on our Zion ? Or must he have known 
what would follow, so that his act proceeded from, or at least 
was associated with, some degree of indifference, if not of wan- 
tonness, in regard to results ? These things, sir, should be well 
weighed in settling the question of expediency. 

" ' A bishop's influence is not like a preacher's or class-leader's. 
It is diffused like the atmosphere, everywhere. So high a 
Church officer, (I will not say, sir, conference officer, though 
just now I take you to be such, at least for the time being,) I 
say so high a Church officer should be willing to endure not 
slight sacrifices for this vast connection. What could tempt 
you, sir, to trouble and wound the Church all through, from 
center to circumference ? The preacher and the class-leader, 
whose influence is guarded against so strongly, can do little 
harm — a bishop infinite. Their improper acts are motes in the 
air; yours are a pestilence abroad in the earth. Is it more 
important to guard against those than against these ? Heaven 
forbid ! Like the concealed attractions of the heavens, we 
expect a bishop's influence to be all-abiding everywhere : in the 
heights and in the depths ; in the center and on the verge of 
this great system ecclesiastical. If instead of concentric and 
harmonizing movements, such as are wholesome and conserva- 
tive and beautifying, we observe in him irregularities which, 



Iz2 




ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 163 

does this, " it acts above law. 1 '' Now where there is no legislation 
there can be no law. I commend to him, in turn, the report of 
1828, which has long been familiar to me, and of which I most 
cordially approve; yet I presume that he, as well as myself, 
will continue to use the only convenient terms, legislation and 
law, to distinguish one class of conference powers from another. 

" * Fifth. As to the assertion that the analogy between bish- 
ops and inferior officers will not hold, because this conference 
is not responsible for its action as removing officers are, I answer : 
This conference is responsible to the constitution; and if it 
wished to bind itself not to remove a bishop, it could call on 
the annual conferences to aid it in assuming a constitutional 
restriction. Not having done so proves that it intends to hold 
this power, and execute it when necessary. 

" ' Sixth. As to the abolition address charged on me, the con- 
ference may be surprised to learn that it was a colonization 
address ; and was so acceptable, that the Colonization Society 
in Zanesville published it in pamphlet form. Moreover, a friend 
of mine forwarded a copy, without my knowledge, to Mr. Gur- 
ley, of Washington City, who noticed it with unmerited com- 
mendation in the African Repository, the official organ of the 
African Colonization Society, and gave extracts of it to the 
public. Surely the brother is too magnanimous to have at- 
tempted to counteract the force of my argument by misrepre- 
senting, and rendering me personally odious. As to my exerting 
my slender influence for evil ends at home, I must submit to be 
judged by my own conference, who will know how to estimate 
the value and the motive of the insinuation.' 

"It is agreed on all hands that the speech and explanation 
of Bishop Hamline were a full answer to the pleas of the South, 
who were bent on the disruption of the Church, unless their 
pro-slavery principles and practices were approved by the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

" Indeed, the political division of the South was at this time 
adopted by the leading politicians of the South, and their great 
aim was to obtain the assent and aid of the Southern Churches, 
especially the Methodist, in accomplishing this. And while the 



164: 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



delegates of the northern conferences were in favor of everything 
reasonable and scriptural to promote peace and union, the schis- 
matic and revolutionary course of the South was anticipated, 
and all the guards against mere revolution were carefully 
avoided; and yet the conciliatory and liberal course of the 
General Conference of 1844 was an excess of Christian court- 
esy, of which the revolutionary spirit and acts of the southern 
Methodists took undue advantage. (See Debates, General Con- 
ference, 1844, pp. 144, 145.) 

"Again, (p. 223:) Mr. Hamline took the floor by consent 
while the journals were examined. He explained the action 
of the committee in reference to the sixth restrictive article. 
"When the first committee met they had before them a paper 
which proposed a new form or division of the Church. The 
committee thought there were difficulties in the way of such a 
proposition. One provision was to send it to the annual con- 
ferences, but that was unconstitutional and revolutionary in its 
character ; and when their votes came back, the General Con- 
ference would have no more authority than they had now. 
Why then send it ? The Book Concern is chartered in behalf 
of the General Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States. 
But if they sent out to the annual conferences to alter one 
restrictive article it would be constitutional to divide the 
Book Concern so that they might be honest men and ministers. 
The resolution goes on to make provision, if the annual confer- 
ences concur, for the security and efficiency of the southern 
conferences ; for the Methodist Church would embrace them in 
its fraternal arms, tendering to them fraternal feelings and the 
temporalities to which they were entitled. And the committee 
thought it could not be objected to on the ground of constitu- 
tionality. He for one would wish to have his name recorded 
affirming them to be brethren if they found they must separate. 
God forbid that they should go as an arm torn out of the body, 
leaving the point of junction all gory and ghastly. But let 
them go as ' brethren beloved in the Lord ; and let us hear their 
voice responsive claiming us to be brethren. Let us go and 
preach Jesus to them, and let them come and preach Jesus to us,* 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



165 



" Again, (p. 226 :) Mr. Hamline would state the views of the 
committee on the subject. They had carefully avoided pre- 
senting any resolution which would embrace the idea of a 
separation or division of the Church. The article which was 
referred to the annual conferences had not necessarily any con- 
nection with division. It was thought, as complaints were 
abroad respecting the present mode of appropriating the pro- 
ceeds of the Book Concern, it would be for the general good 
that the power to appropriate such proceeds should be put in 
the power of a two thirds vote, instead of in the power of a mere 
majority, thus making it more difficult to make a wrong appro- 
priation. And the occasion of this report was taken hold of by 
the committee to make it more difficult to misappropriate the 
funds, in which they believed they should serve both the par- 
ticular object of the report, and the general good of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

" The first committee of nine (or Pacification Committee) had 
before them a paper which proposed a new form or division of 
the Church. The committee thought there were difficulties in 
the way of such a proposition. 

" When the second committee of nine were appointed, J. B. 
M'Ferrin offered the following resolution : 

" ' Resolved,, That the committee appointed to take into con- 
sideration the communication of the delegates from the southern 
conferences be instructed, provided they cannot in their judg- 
ment devise a plan for an amicable adjustment of the difficulties 
now existing in the Church on the subject of slavery, to devise, 
if possible, a constitutional plan for a mutual and friendly division 
of the Church.' 

" Mr. Hamline rose, and being too weak to speak loud, walked 
from his seat in the side to the center aisle, and said : 1 1 cannot 
go out with such instructions.' Being urged to go, he said : ' I 
will not go out with instructions from this conference to devise 
a plan to divide the Church.' 1 Then will Brother Hamline go 
if the instructions be so changed as simply to read, " If the 
South should separate, to make provision in such a contin- 
gency to meet the emergency with Christian kindness and the 



166 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



strictest equity ? " ' Mr. Hamline said, ' I will go out with such 
instructions.' 

" During the sitting of this committee, which met in a private 
room, Mr. H., being very feeble, sat by the bed, leaning his 
head on the pillow ; and while the committee were discussing, 
held in his hand a paper, on which, with pencil, he wrote what 
formed the basis of the report of the committee of nine, which 
has since been the subject of so much animadversion in the 
Church. After much dissension, during which he had remained 
silent, they turned to him and asked his views. He replied, in 
substance : " You cannot have two General Conferences. You 
would forfeit all the Church property of every sort in the United 
States, which has been deeded according to the Discipline : 
churches, cemeteries, book depositories, etc., etc. ~ "We cannot 
divide this General Conference.' 

" ' Brother Hamline has told us what we cannot do ; now will 
he tell us what we can do ? ' was their reply. 

" ' Well, brethren, I have sketched on this piece of paper the 
only plan I can devise for your separation] holding up the sheet 
he had written with pencil on the bedside. ' If you insist that 
in order to preach to the slaves you must get away from this 
General Conference, you must be seceders. There is no other 
way.' 

" William Winans sprang to his feet and said : ' That i3 so. 
Brother H. has the right. I see it,' etc. 1 But I hope you will 
not insist on calling us seceders.' 

" Dr. Capers repeated the same sentiments, and all the com- 
mittee except one concurred in this view. 

" The southern members of the committee desired Mr. H. to 
write out with pen and ink what he had written with pencil. 
This he did, carefully guarding every word — as 'separate' and 
' separation,' instead of ' divide ' and ' division.' When the com- 
mittee had adopted their report, and were ready to adjourn, 
they asked what next to do. Mr. H. said, substantially: 
' Brethren, if you will go into the General Conference, and say 
that you will be compelled to separate from the General Con- 
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church in order to be per- 
mitted to preach to the slaves— if you say this is so — I think 



ELECTION TO THE EPISCOPACY. 



167 



the conference will meet your proposition kindly. I certainly 
will.' But on returning to the conference they did not so state 
the case; and when the report was presented in conference 
several words were changed. Observing this, Mr. H. left his 
seat and went to Dr. Bangs, as the oldest member of the com- 
mittee, and called his attention to the altered words, adding, 
'I fear there is design in that.' Dr. B. did not see the legal 
advantage the South would gain by these changes. Mr. H. 
having substantially written the report, though Robert Paine 
(afterward bishop) was chairman of the committee, being a 
young member, let it pass, the result proving how important 
was the precision with which he had guarded the language in 
the committee-room." 

This account seems important, as the Church has blamed 
this committee of nine for their report. If they were to be 
blamed, it was for adopting the report as it appeared in the con- 
ference, after it had been changed from that adopted in the 
committee-room ; or rather for permitting it to pass the confer- 
ence in language which had not been permitted in the com- 
mittee-room. Mr. H. often referred to this during the following 
years, always manifesting his own mortification that it had so 
occurred. Surely the conference were not compelled to adopt 
the report even if it had been presented as the committee 
adopted it. Who it was that changed the words involving the 
difficulty who can now aflirm ? 



168 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER IX. 

episcopal labor: first tear. 

" The just shall live by faith." Hitherto the religious career 
of Bishop H. had been characterized by an extraordinary 
degree of sensible emotion and almost open vision. In the 
future of his Christian course the experienced believer will 
have occasion to observe that his career, though manifestly 
onward and upward, was marked by stronger tests of faith and 
greater conflict. This suggests a higher degree of faith, as 
God in his faithfulness has promised that his devoted followers 
shall not be tempted above that they are able to bear. If God 
permits the graces of his Spirit to be more than ordinarily 
tried, it proves that an extraordinary degree has been given. 
It was not because there was a want of perfection of divine 
graces on the part of Job that the Lord permitted him to pass 
through such a long and seemingly severe ordeal, but because 
an extraordinary supply had been divinely bestowed, and there- 
fore not in severity, but with the loving design that the graces 
given might be tested and brought out to the praise of the 
heavenly Giver, he permitted Job's graces to be tried. 

Thus we believe it was with the eminently devoted subject 
of this memoir. While he was evidently maturing in his faith, 
and in all the gifts and graces of the Spirit, often from causes, 
which we will not enumerate, connected with his onerous 
position and failing health, he was the subject of remarkable 
trials, the results of which, as will be seen by these pages, 
brought out a wonderful display of the power and beauty of 
holiness, as exhibited during his superintendence of annual 
conferences, and in all the minutiae of his life. 

Bishop Hamline observes on the twelfth of June : " I first 
occupied the chair in the New York Annual Conference at 
Bishop Hedding's request, my soul all the while overwhelmed 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 



169 



with unutterable baptisms of the Spirit such as I can never 
describe. As business proceeded, my soul cried out to God in 
behalf of his ministers. After four days, preaching on Sab- 
bath in Sands-street Church and ordaining the elders, I started 
for the Troy Conference at Poultney." 

His first conference commenced June 19, 1844. He says, 
" The Lord was with me, and gave me blessings and favor 
with his ministers. . I was ill, very ill for two days ; but my 
worthy friends Rev. Jesse T. Peck and lady nursed me with 
the greatest care and kindness, so that I was able to attend to 
the ordinations." 

He had taken the precaution to inform the family that he was 
liable to faintings, and in the night they heard him fall, and 
springing from their beds to his room found him prostrate, 
and as they supposed, dying. Several physicians were imme- 
diately in attendance, but medical skill for the time was una- 
vailing, while for twelve hours he could only occasionally be 
revived to consciousness, and then sank away again, as if life 
were nearly extinct, until his recovery was deemed almost 
hopeless. 

From this sudden attack he recovered sufficiently to attend 
to the onerous duties of the conference. On his way to the 
next conference he writes, July 3 : 

" To Dr. and Mrs P. : — A leisure hour comes at last for 
communion with you, whom I am obliged to address not on 
the ground of gratitude alone, though that were a sufficient 
motive, but also as urged by my own necessities, for I feel a 
solicitude that I may lose nothing in your prayerful remem- 
brances. I feel nowadays such a pressure upon me of care 
and concern, sometimes even to the point of faltering in my 
faith, and regret for my condition, as though it were not wholly 
of the Lord, that I turn to you in my thoughts as helpers on 
whom I may depend, under God, for some aid, and more sym- 
pathy, which is of itself an aid. 

" You will have learned probably that among my trials at 
Poultney was ill health, which was in the circumstances a 
severe affliction. In the midst of it a certain stupidity crept 

8 



170 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



all over me, so that I realized little of the divine presence, and 
scarcely any religious affection seemed to remain when I most 
needed its exhilaration. But I am thankful that a naked con- 
fidence remained, so that though I could not feel I could see, 
and could say, '7* am the Lord's.'' 

" On my way from conference to this place I was also exceed- 
ingly destitute, having no clear vision spiritually, and obliged, 
like the mariner in a storm when the rudder is lost and the 
compass gone, to leave all in God's care, and believe that he 
would rule the winds and the waves in my behalf. I did make 
out by his grace to hold on to the expectation, that though the 
storm at sea was severe, he would carry me safe into port. To 
be sure he did so, and yesterday I found a calm. I feel now 
that the Lord is on my side, that his presence goes with me, 
and that he gives me rest. 

" My health is in a measure restored, and I am comfortable. 
I greatly desired Dr. P.'s counsel at Poultney. I had one hard 
night, fainting away several times, with mucous disease, and 
have felt partially prostrated ever since ; but the rest I am now 
taking helps me much. When Brother Collord left I was 
laboring to the utmost of my feeble strength ; overdone with 
writing, which occupied me almost every moment when I was 
not either in the conference or in the stationing room. I could 
not write to you, and, moreover, resolved if I was not much 
relieved when I reached Albany that I should go down and 
spend a week under Dr. P.'s care. 

" A letter met me at Troy from my dear Mrs. H., informing 
me that by the divine blessing she will meet me on the twen- 
tieth of July. ... I pray God to bring her safely on the way." 

On the tenth of July Bishop H. attended the New Hampshire 
Conference at Portsmouth, from the seat of which he writes to 
Mrs. H., July 8 : " I hastened on to this place four days before 
conference, hoping to find here a letter from you, and on 
reaching here I received yours of the twenty-seventh. I was 
exceedingly pained to learn that you have been ill, and that it 
was doubtful when you wrote if you could travel to New York. 
I was pained also to learn that you thought my letter to Brother 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 171 



Swormstedt was intended to deter you from the journey on any 
other ground than the inconvenience of your leaving home. 
When I wrote that letter, I began to fear that in so promptly 
and unconditionally urging you to meet me on the twentieth, I 
had imposed possibly a very difficult if not an impracticable 
enterprise. In that case I intended merely to release you from 
so hasty a call, and leave you to do what you thought best. I 
only pray that you may have reached New York in safety, and 
you may be assured that I shall exceedingly rejoice if you may 
have accomplished the journey (with the divine blessing) 
without injury to your health. 

" The directions which I gave through Sister P. last week 
are the best I can think of if your health is not too feeble, 
namely, on Thursday, July 17, come to Barrington by Bridge- 
port, which you can do, I am assured, in one day. I will 
write to Mr. Humphrey to be at the depot on that evening 
with a carriage to take you to his house. If this conference 
closes in season, we can start the next morning to Hillsdale, or 
to Saratoga, just as you please. If I do not reach there for a 
day or two you can rest, and do good. I think you will be 
exceedingly refreshed in body and soul at Dr. P.'s. I wish 
you may find his medicines and their fellowship as useful to 
you as they were to me. While there in the Hand Beulah 1 
you will all plead for me. I say all, for I am sure those 
beloved friends, for the Church's sake, cease not to plead in 
my behalf. 

" I preached yesterday to a large congregation in the large 
and convenient Methodist church here, and administered the 
sacrament. There is no ' perfect love,' I am told, here, and I 
can readily believe it ; and while I dwelt a little on the theme 
it was like as moonbeams on a mountain of ice. My heart sunk 
within me; but the preachers are coming in, and I am told 
some of them are warm and sunny and fiery, and? can weep and 
shout. O I bless God for religion, and for Methodism ; but 
when Methodism affects the dignity and silence and stillness of 
Presbyterianism or Congregationalism it makes me weep. I 
want to see it the warm breathing thing it was in the days of 
Abbott, and not a statue, a lifeless imitation of what it was. 



172 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Thank God, I feel his life in me this morning, and believe my 
beloved M. enjoys it also. 

M I am getting over the chills of yesterday, and feel warmed, 
by the Sun of Righteousness. I feel steadfast, founded on a 
rock. Blessed be God for his great goodness, I have just 
dined, and read oyer a precious admonitory letter from Sister 
P., sent me at Poultney. It has moved me exceedingly. If 
that ' divine conviction ' of which she speaks remains on her 
mind, I must claim again her ardent prayers. I believe her 
doctrine is of God so far as the Church is concerned. An 
awful conviction rests on me that unless the Church in N. H. is 
aroused to the doctrine of holiness and its experience, God will 
have little use for Methodism here. O plead with God that he 
will help us at this conference ! It seems to me that if I may 
but meet you in peace we shall praise God as we have never 
praised him. I pray that he will prepare us a song, and that 
we may ' make ready the harp.' Bless the Lord, O my soul ! 
Be sure and bring a long faithful sister's letter froni Sister P., 
and as many* others as will write. I feel as though I wished to 
say more about those dearest friends. I cannot send love 
enough to them ; but in heaven I can explain. O how the 
image of my blessed Saviour shines in them ! The Lord sur- 
round them and fill them — thee — me— forever." 

" PoETSMorra, July 11, 1844. 
u To Dr. and Mes. P. : — Tours of the ninth inst. reached 
me early this morning, (it is now but half past seven,) and 
just before I go to the conference I will write a few lines 
toward filling out a letter which I feel in great haste to send 
you. I received with yours a letter from my dear Mrs. H. 
which has been in New York, I presume, four weeks, giving 
me an account of her illness, of which I knew nothing 
except by a hint now and then, which I could not understand 
until now. Had this letter come directly into my hands when 
it arrived I should have returned from New York directly to 
the West. As I received it now I was overwhelmed, excruci- 
ated, that my dear wife should have suffered as she did, and I 
not even aware of it, so as to suit my feeble prayers to her 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIPvST YEAR. 173 

state. It is a great mystery to me that tMs one letter only 
should have been detained from me. I scarcely know how I 
should have borne it ; but in my grief and tears I opened the 
other letter (a small one to look at) and found it to be a 
treasure from my precious sister, and falling to the reading of 
it through some (unmanly) tears, the current of my feelings 
gradually changed, till my sorrow of one sort became mingled 
into a very peculiar sympathy for my suffering wife and a 
suffering Church — the Bride— the Lamb's Bride. Now, dear 
sister, the sorrows of my heart are not only enlarged, but 
purified by the Spirit through your letter. And you know 
that religious grief has a divine support which God does not 
impart to relieve natural grief. Your letter was a donation 
from my heavenly Father, and by him you were moved to write 
it, and he prepared it from your kind hand against the time 
that the friend of my heart, the doctor, should receive the 
other, that they might come to me at the same moment. The 
two thus meeting have been to me a morning blessing. They 
have roused me, driven and drawn me nearer to God than I 
should have approached this day without them. 

" The bell rings for conference and I must go. The Lord 
fill us with all his fullness. I wish to testify to you that the 
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth me from all sin. God 
helping me I will let his servants know it. We have bursts of 
praise in the conference room. Brother A. D. Merrill is here, 
and will preach to-night. 

" I commend to the Lord Jesus Christ and to thee, my dear 
wife, who has been, I doubt not, a bruised reed for three 
months past. Fare thee well. My best regards to every 
member of the family. The remainder of my letter I win 
address to Mrs. Hamline." 

" One o'clock P. M. My deab M,— I have expressed above 
my entire ignorance of your illness until this morning ; but 
though I could not precisely sympathize with you at the time, 
it seems as though you lost nothing, except the unseasonable- 
ness of my sympathy be a loss. . . . 

" I feel blessed to-day. That precious one whom God hath 
given us for so dear and helpful a friend, Sister P., sent a help- 



174 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

mate along with your delayed letter, and when this had almost 
driven me from all Christian recollection, that, like the 
youth's harp to Saul's distemperament, soothed me down into 
holy confiding recollection. It has made my sorrow for you, 
my beloved, a chastening and purifying grief. It is now con- 
stantly whispered, ' She is sick,' ' you will see her no more 
4 she will be taken with that disease on the canal boat and die 
unhelped among strangers.' But I can come nearer than I 
could to saying, ' I will trust, and not be afraid.' If I see you 
again in peace I shall be so thankful, grace enabling me, that 
sometimes I think God will grant it that he may receive back 
the odor of my warm gratitude and praise. Thank God! 
' Bless the Lord ! ' 

" Get all the acquaintance you can with that family. You 
will meet them with many predilections, but acquaintance will 
not endanger your esteem and love for them. I wrote to Sister 
P. because I wished to direct the letter to her, and have her 
open it if you are not there. I am willing she and the doctor 
should see all our' hearts. The Lord bless thee, beloved, and 
preserve us to meet in his dear name." 

" Satuedat Evening, July 13. 

" To Mrs. H., — By this time I cannot but hope that you are 
safe in New York. Your and Leonidas's letter just reached me, 
having been sent first to Portsmouth, Ohio, and being remailed 
from there on the eighth, having lain there four days. My 
anxiety has been increasing up to this time, and to-day was 
extreme and painful. I presumed that mine from Poultney 
must have reached you by the second of July, that you would 
answer it immediately, and that of course I should receive a 
letter by the tenth or earlier. When none came day after 
day I concluded that you were sick, too sick for me to be 
informed about it, and that the fact was intentionally con- 
cealed from me. 

" Sabbath morning. — Though much concerned about you and 
unable to dismiss my fears, . . . yet I have this morning great 
peace in giving you into the care of Jesus. Your life and 
society seem to me so necessary to my usefulness, that if he has 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 175 



any important work for me to do, I trust and think he will 
preserve you. I have much gratification in hoping that we 
may worship him together next Sabbath. It will be delightful 
indeed thus to appear before our blessed God and Saviour. 
We shall ' enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his 
courts with praise.' ' The beauty of the Lord our God ' will be 
' upon us.' We shall ' worship the Lord in the beauty of holi- 
ness.' 

" Sabbath, one o'clock P. M. — This morning at eight o'clock 
we had a most heavenly time in love-feast. It was appointed 
at my request, and proved, as I hoped it would, a great blessing 
to my soul. Several ministers testified to their possession of 
the perfect love of God, some in a most edifying manner. I 
was enabled to join them, and was blessed in giving in my 
testimony. It was a season of peace and triumph. 

u Brother Sorin of Philadelphia preached at ten A. M. from 
Isaiah xxviii, 16, an excellent sermon. Twelve deacons were 
ordained, and the services were very solemn, witnessed by 
some weeping and many serious persons. It is said by the 
brethren that they have never witnessed so much spirituality 
and devotion in any former session of their conference. It is 
all through so far a sort of love-feast. There is often shouting 
and praising till the house rings. Blessed be God for such 
unmerited mercy. I keep adding a little to my letter because 
it does me good. The Lord bless thee to-day. This has been 
my cry. 

" Five o'clock P. M. — Have just returned from meeting. Dr. 
Olin of Middletown preached from John xiv, 1 ; my text, and 
my leading propositions, which you know always destroy a 
sermon for me, as I never preach it afterward (if I thought it 
my own and no other one's) with the same confidence. 1. The 
belief of God the Father and Judge troubles the heart. 2. Be- 
lieving in Jesus is the only method of relief from that trouble. 
I often think it strange that in all my hearing and reading I 
never lighted on that division of the text, it seemed so obvious 
and so important ; but it was my supposition that I alone had 
it, except some one had borrowed it from me. But he made 
so much better use of the divisions than I could, that I freely 



176 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



relinquish it to him. It was one of the grandest exhibitions of 
intellect I ever witnessed, and as pious as it was majestic. He 
preached from it the witness of the Spirit and the doctrine of 
perfect love to a vast number, I presume, who despise both. I 
doubt not that Dr. Olin is the greatest man on the continent; 
simple as great, (wonderfully different from some gbeat men.) 
Ordained twelve elders this P. M. I did not decline preaching 
to-day because I was too ill, but because being well, or nearly 
so, I wished, if Providence favored, to keep so. Two ordina- 
tions are nearly equal to a sermon, and as I addressed the can- 
didates before ordaining them, it was, I think, quite equal to a 
sermon. I am as well now as I have been at any time since 
leaving the "West. I am not in raptures this P. M., but have 
faith in Christ. 

" Monday morning. — The conference is very far forward with 
its business, and unless a case of cJtaracter about to come before 
us to-day should detain us, we shall close at least by Wednesday 
noon, perhaps by Tuesday night. I now think that if pros- 
pered I will see you Thursday morning at New York, or at 
Brooklyn. I shall not regret it if your letter says ' I will wait 
at New York.' I would be pleased to see Brother and Sister P. 
again ; but you must not attempt any new arrangement in 
answer to this. I shall go to conference with a light heart, 
and think I can praise God.' May he bless us and our dear 
friends. Love to them. 

" I find no great difficulty in my business, only to keep my 
heart right. Whatever I do without the sensible power of 
religion is foolishly done, and I am ashamed of it ; but when I 
feel Christ with me all seems to be done as it should be." 

On the twenty-fifth, in writing to his friends in New York he 
says : " We arrived in Albany last evening after a pleasant trip 
from Brooklyn, and start toward White Hall in about an hour, 
say at eight o'clock. Reading Sister P.'s letter by Mrs. H. this 
morning (which I had declined to do while we could enjoy her 
conversation) I felt a desire to say a word or two, which I could 
conveniently do by inclosing it in a package to Brother Lane. 

"I like exceedingly, especially as it promises me aid, the 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 177 



doctrine of bearing ' one another's burdens and I am very 
happy to find that Sister P. has connected that doctrine in her 
experience with my very heavy burdens. I trust the Lord will 
continue to call you, my dear sister, to this work. I know that 
in a very profitable manner to me the Lord has brought us 
acquainted, and among the peculiar mercies of my life was my 
providential sojourn with you during the General Conference, 
and that not only for the relief it afforded me for the time 
being, but for the continued acquaintanceship and fraternity 
which has resulted from it. I pray that I may neither wear it 
out nor write it down. 

" I wish at this time to crave a particular interest in all your 
prayers in regard to my visit at the approaching Black River 
Conference. My mind is led to meditate a very special effort 
above all I have yet made to promote holiness among the 
members. Mrs. H. will, I know, feel, as she continually feels, a 
great desire to do something among the sisters. I cannot but 
hope that good will be done 1 in the name of the holy child 
Jesus.' From five to six A. M., and from seven to eight P. M. 
when not interrupted peremptorily, we will be pleading with 
God for his blessing. Please join us when you can. 

" Will Sister P. write to Potsdam in three or four days, if it 
be but a brief letter, that we may know how she reached home. 
She left the savor of Christ's grace in Hillsdale and Barrington, 
and we do very much hope that seed was sown whose harvests 
will be known in eternity. I am better this morning than 
usual, and ' the Lord of Hosts is with me, the God of Jacob is 
my refuge.' I feel that the company of my dear wife will 
strengthen me. We feel more confidence in regard to her 
taking the journey to Potsdam. Mr. Pomeroy and his family 
(cousins) called to see us last evening, and he having once been 
an extensive contractor, knew all roads, and gave us helps for 
the journey." 

Bishop Hamline attended the Black River Conference on 
July 31 at Potsdam, N. Y. In his diary he remarks : " Suffer- 
ing much on my journey from Plattsburgh west, but helped of 
the Lord, and blessed by the company of my dear wife, who 
ministers to both my soul and body." 

8* 



178 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



The honorary degree of D. D. was conferred upon Bishop 
Hamline by the Wesleyan University. A note from President 
Olin announcing the fact, bearing date August 8, 1844, is 
before us. 

" Rev. L. L. Hamline, Bishop op the M. E. Church : 

" Rev. and deak Sir, — I have the honor to inform you that 
at the commencement of this institution just past, the degree 
of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon you in obedience to 
the unanimous vote of the Faculty and of the joint Board of 
Trustees and Visitors. 

" With the highest respect, I am yours, 

" Stephen Olin, Pm." 

Bishop H. presided at the Oneida Conference, held August 21, 
of which he says, " The Lord was with us, and his ministers 
were blessed. This is a model conference. Many enjoy perfect 
love, and the people, like their ministers, press into the liberty. 
In Elmira, thirty miles south of Ithica, we spent a few days, 
and found a people blessed of the Lord." 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — It was an acquisition which I deem 
wholly providential, when without my let (but not without 
desire) I was introduced to your acquaintance, and then be- 
became an acknowledged friend and brother both to you and 
my dear Sister P. I have no time nor strength now to do more 
than assure you of my mindfulness of these things as providences, 
for which I expect, in time and in eternity, to be thankful and 
to render praise. 

u My health is feeble, strength exhausted every hour, confer- 
ence half through, and scarcely remission for taking a cool, 
slow breath now and then, so pressed am I with cares. Mrs. H. 
is writing to Sister P., and seeing this 'bit of paper' lying by 
her, I hastily scribble a line \o thank you for your letter ; to 
assure you of my joy in God, and my increasing strength for a 
few days past in Christ, and to promise you that when I rest a 
little from my labor I will write you a letter. The Lord bless 
thee and thine ! O let us press on in holiness for the prize of our 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 



179 



"high calling! As to the suggestion about our visiting New 
York it is pleasant in idea. I leave it now to providential 
indications." 

" Geneva, September 9, 1844. 
To Dr. and Mrs. P.,— We are waiting here until to-morrow, 
when we expect to take the cars eight miles to Vienna, the seat 
of Genesee Conference. For two weeks I have been down into 
the wilderness. My hard heart felt but a small degree of that 
joy which is unspeakable and full of glory. I lay down at ten 
o'clock this (Monday) morning and slept a little, sad and mourn- 
ing at my low state. At eleven I awoke, and after a time of 
lamenting upon my knees, I took up the ' Shorter Way ' and read 
the second, third, and fourth sections. As I came along to pages 
13-16 the Lord was pleased to bless. My heart, which had 
seemed so hard, burst forth in a wonderful manner, as though 
the waters had been accumulating for two long weeks for this 
very occasion. ' The parched ground suddenly became a pool, 
and the thirsty land springs of water.' For two hours I have 
been raining tears and icMspering praises. Now, my dear 
friends, better prepared for trials than I was, one comes upon 
me in a fearful shape. It is formidable, vital, and asks your 
prayers. But I leave Mrs. H. to inform you what it is." 

Mrs. H. adds : " Mr. H. being very feeble and unable to make 
his own explanations, desires me to say that Brother C, a ven- 
erable minister of this conference, has just paid him a visit, and 
informed him that there is among the members of this con- 
ference strong and increasing opposition to the doctrine of 
Christian Perfection. The old error that Justification and 
Sanctification take place at the same moment, they preach, and 
it is spreading with fearful rapidity. O it is painful, painful ! 

" Last week we went to Elmira, where are, I should think, 
twenty or more witnesses. A lovely society; but even here 
there is need of instruction. They have now an excellent old 
minister, experienced in the grace and sound in the doctrine. 
I do pray that the sower of tares may not get among them ! 
Yesterday morning, in love-feast, Mr. H. rehearsed his expe- 
rience, and made some appropriate and pointed remarks, and 



180 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



then preached from ' Blessed are the pure in heart,' etc. A 
strong doctrinal sermon, and experimental too. I rejoiced that 
the enemy was foiled." 

His diary says: "The Genesee Conference met September 11 
at Vienna. Here I found much talent and piety, but fear 
that Count Zinzendorf has taken some of the young men captive. 
May the Lord make us a pure people in heart and life and 
doctrine ! 

" Sabbath 22d spent in Buffalo, and on Monday sailed for 
Monroe, Mich., where I spent a few days and a Sabbath with 
Brother Morton and his kind family, enjoying a comfortable 
visit, but found their preacher sick." 

On Wednesday, October 2, the Michigan Conference con- 
vened at Coldwater, one hundred miles west of Monroe. Bishop 
Hamline presided. He says, " It was a devout season, and per- 
fect loVe was very much the theme." 

He writes to his New York friends: "I have very little 
strength after preaching an hour and a half and ordaining 
twenty -four preachers. We have had a pleasant time, prosperous 
gales. The Lord of Hosts is with us ! We feel the efficacy of 
your prayers. This has been a delightful day to me and to the 
Michigan Conference. Much love in Christ to you both. Pray 
still. I am going, by God's grace, to try to get nearer the 
throne. My health is the same. Perhaps we may see you be- 
fore January." 

We copy the following from his diary : 

"The conference adjourned on Wednesday, and we started 
for Fort Wayne, Ind., where on the 16th of October the North 
Indiana Conference sat, Bishop Waugh presiding. 

" On Saturday the 19th we left for home. Spent the Sabbath 
(20th) at Wiltshire and the 27th at Dayton, and reached Cin- 
cinnati October 29, 1844. Comfortable, health improved, and 
blessed of the Lord. 

" Cincinnati, December 7. — Preached last Sabbath in Ninth- 
street Church. Have found war and wickedness here. Let me 
keep my garments clean and live in peace ! Trials bear on me. 
If God be for me, who can be against me ? I have been carried 
hitherto ; and if I go, I must be carried by the arms of my 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIRST YEAR. 



181 



Father's love ; and if borne on none can check me, and I shall 
not turn aside. 

" Springfield, Ohio, December 22, 1844. — Preached this morn- 
ing to a large congregation, and though I had not those fervors 
which are so agreeable in ministering, I believe the word 
preached will not return void. Since I left Cincinnati on the 
12th inst. I have preached three times in Xenia, where the 
Church was stirred up, and one entered into the state of perfect 
love ; and five times here, where Jthere is now a great hungering 
and thirsting after righteousness." 

"To Mrs. P., — Six months ago this morning I was in our 
chamber at your house crying unto God, even unto the living 
God, for his presence in the solemn duty which followed at 
eleven o'clock. I strove then and there to give myself up more 
entirely to the service of the Church. In looking back to that 
hour I am constrained to acknowledge, to the glory of God, 
that I have been more entirely Christ's. I have, to be sure, 
grounds enough for sorrow and lamentation, that I have not in 
the mean time done and suffered more for his sake ; but I bless 
him for the grace which has so manifestly helped me in the 
little I have done and suffered — grace, without which I should 
have greatly ^honored his blessed and holy name. 

" I have been now in comparative rest for five weeks, preach- 
ing every Sabbath but one, in the city, ordaining some brethren 
who had been heretofore elected to orders, and, if anything, 
improving in health, though for a day or two I have been ill 
with my old complaints. I am for the most part in great peace, 
and often filled with comfort. For two weeks past I have had 
a 'precious' trial of my faith, not from anything outward or 
humiliating to the flesh, (though the times are stormy,) but in 
a peculiar dullness and unfeelingness, which I could not shake 
off nor acccount for. I have for a day or two experienced some 
deliverance, which, I trust, if it be His time, will be perfected. 
I am striving to hold fast, and think, by grace, I shall. Two 
weeks at Dr. P.'s would be a precious help, but I must defer it. 
Were it not to me very probable that some exigency may compel 
us to cross the mountains within seven months, I might think 



182 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



more of an early and voluntary journey. I look forward to 
spring with much uncertainty, whether duty will not call us 
east in May or June. 

"I rejoice to learn that you are obliged to issue another edi- 
tion of the ' Way/ I could not give you much advice, except 
that if you can prepare a few chapters, or new section, on 
the 'Growth of the Sanctified," as necessary to preserve, to 
strengthen (and brighten the evidence of) that state, it might be 
very useful. Perhaps an addition of your late experience, or 
some of its interesting passages on these and other points, might 
be very useful. But I would not add so much as to very mate- 
rially enhance the price. The book is to have a much wider 
circulation, as it is gradually finding its way abroad in the 
West, into remoter places where it will be known, and calls for 
it, of course, multipled. I do not see that the book can be 
improved. I may say, as of nearly every book in the world, 
that now and then an inaccuracy has crept into the text. 

" In conclusion, rebuild your ark with prayer, mighty prayer, 
and you cannot labor in vain. Pray for us also, that we may 
have a good conscience in evil and in good report, and may 
be ready to sit down at the marriage-supper of the Lamb. I am 
weak and weary, or I would add a good deal more." 



EPISCOPAL LABOE : SECOND YEAR. 183 



CHAPTER X. 

EPISCOPAL LABOR : SECOND YEAE. 

The opening of the year 1845 found Mr. H. in Springfield, Ohio, 
employed in the great work which should engage primarily the 
attentions of every Christian minister. "Whom we preach, 
warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that 
we may present every man perfect in Jesus Christ." This is the 
grand ultimatum of all Christian ministrations ; that is, to pre- 
sent every man perfect in Christ Jesus, was to him a matter of 
such exceeding interest, that we find him often preaching several 
sermons weekly to the various or combined flock over which 
the Holy Ghost had made him overseer. 

As one of the overseers or chief shepherds, he believed it to 
be a duty of paramount importance to see not only that the 
doctrines of the Church were maintained in their purity, but, as 
far as in him lay, by his personal testimony and eminently prac- 
tical teachings to be minute in his endeavors to present "every" 
man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whether at home or abroad, we 
see him presenting the (Hstmguishing doctrines of Methodism, 
not only as one great whole, but, like the holy Fletcher, he 
talks and writes of his own blessed experiences of the grace, 
and incites individual niinisters, and members of their charges, 
to experimental realizations of heart holiness. Truly can it be 
said of him that he preferred Zion above his chief joy. And 
his every-day life, whether engaged in his official duties, or in 
his intervals of what he calls " comparative rest," are most sig- 
nificantly expressed in the beautiful words of the poet : 

"I love thy kingdom, Lord, 

The house of thine abode ; 
The Church our blessed Eedeemer bought 

With his own precious blood. 

" For her my tears shall fall ; 

For her my prayers ascend ; 
To her my cares and toils be given, 

Till toils and cares shall end." 



184 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



In his diary of the first day of the year 1845 we find the fol- 
lowing impressive record : 

" A new year ! I dedicate it to thee. Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost ! May I and mine be wholly thine ! Let me hare grace 
to employ every moment of life from this hour for thee. If thou 
pleasest, let this year end my pilgrimage ; if otherwise, let its 
commencement end my unbelief, my coldness in thy service. 
O that this may be such a year as I hare hoped to see on earth, 
or such as I long to see in heaven ! Let what may come, I give 
myself to thee, soul, body, and spirit, without reserve, to be 
for ever thine. I seal my vows before heaven and in thy sight, 
O thou all-glorious God ! I am forever thine. Amen and amen ! 
The Lord is at work in Springfield. His ministers are athirst 
for perfect love. Their families are pursuing it. Several mem- 
bers are exceedingly stirred up, and three or four have already 
attained this great blessing." 

" Spbingfield, January!, 1845. 

u To the Rev. J. Yoraa, — May the God of all peace cheer 
you continually with his holy and blessed presence. Circum- 
stances will delay my return to the city till about the 16th of 
January. The Lord is pouring out his spirit in Springfield, 
where I have spent a week, and have been able to preach six 
times. This I never expected to do again. The work is prin- 
cipally in the Church, where it is most needed for the present. 

" In regard to the Church, I fear matters are not improving ; 
yet I hear little, very little here on the subject. Dr. Bond has 
revealed himself and his opinions, and seems fully to agree with 
Brother Elliott. I see no hope of anything better than separa- 
tion. If that be not the result, I now believe something equally 
unpleasant and injurious may be. And indeed, much as seces- 
sion is to be deprecated, worse things might happen to us. If 
letter, I think we will all be thankfoL 

" I have enjoyed here much of the presence of Jesus. My 
soul exults in the perfect love of God. There is a glorious fullness 
to me in Christ. I trust the Church will be stirred up on that 
subject. O for a shaking among the followers of the Lamb ! 

" I find the brethren with whom I have conversed are gen- 
erally (indeed every one who has spoken on the subject) of the 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 



185 



opinion that the "Western Advocate has leaned too much against 
the General Conference. Brother Raper says it is thought the 
paper has not been decided enough in protecting the conference 
against its assailants. I say this not to find any fault with 
Brother Elliott, but because he, having avouched his determin- 
ation to defend the General Conference, and reject assaults on 
its doings, has no need to fear that he will not be supported in 
that purpose. 

" I wish you to examine, in the Christian Advocate and Jour- 
nal of December 25, Dr. Bond's editorial reply to Dr. Capers, 
and notice especially an extract in it from the message of the 
governor of South Carolina. I ventured to you the opinion 
last January that within ten years this confederation would be 
dissolved. You thought not. It seems to me you will now 
consent that possibly the prophecy (forgive the word) will be 
fulfilled. May be the whole South will not go; but if South 
Carolina is not out of the Republic in nine years I shall be 
surprised. 

'"The Lord on high is mightier than the voice of many 
waters ; yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.' This is a cause 
of holy thankfulness and praise. The Lord bring us to his 
kingdom. Amen ! " 

He says, January 9 : 

" The year has commenced piously with a strong purpose in 
my soul to serve God faithfully, and suffer for him patiently. 
Have spent two weeks in Springfield profitably to myself and 
to my dear wife, to my son Leonidas, now fifteen years of age, 
and I humbly trust to some of the dear people. Here, in the 
family of my dear friend, L. Wright, Esq., I have a pleasant 
resting-place. Yesterday was a good day to my soul, and 
though I awoke dull, yet after prayer feel much better, and 
peace dwells within. 

"January 28. — Much of the time for two weeks past has been 
a season of feasting to my soul. For three days have had sore 
conflicts. None but almighty power can deliver and save me ; 
but I trust to come forth as gold tried in the fire. Let his- 
image shine in me and remain in me, and it matters not by how 



136 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



sore trials the refining process goes on. O Lord, appear to me ! 
Let me be thy servant I spent last Sabbath in Xenia; the 
preceding at Yellow Springs; the Sabbath preceding that at 
Dayton, where God is reviving his work.*" 

■ CryccryATi, February 17, 1 : 1 r , 
" To Ret. J. B. Fixlet. — Through the channel which noti- 
fied me of your book, I received notice of your views on topics 
which are vitally connected with the purity and stability of our 
beloved Methodism : and this information caused me to 1 thank 
God and take courage.' Truly I was thankful that you still 
live, and I trust you will live to see this great conflict settled, 
and to exert your hest and decided influence, as you have from 
its commencement in sustaining right, and keeping the Church 
precisely to the old land-marks. You see, my dear brother, 
how much greater the need is every day that the friends of old 
Methodism be at their post watchful as the wary sentinel, and 
coolly determined, as is the skillful commander in the hour of 
sharpest conflict The times are full of the promise of revolution, 
not only in Church but in State : and one is naturally reminded 
by all the aspects of that Scripture, ; He shall overturn and over- 
turn.' In the midst of all we are assured that the Church shall 
only be purified by all the fires through which she may pass. I 
do not believe that Methodism has finished her work, or is 
about to be laid aside as unfit to work out the good for which 
she was originally raised up. And in all that is now going on 
or is threatened, I expect to witness the deliverances and defenses 
of an all-controlling Providence in her behalf. 

u My health has not been so good for a week past as when I 
saw you ; but I yet hope to get to your quarterly meeting in 
Newark. I propose to leave here the last week in March, 
spending the time previous to that in visiting various places in 
Indiana. Probably I may reach Columbus the first week in 
April I wish you would write to me here, and send me the 
places and dates of all your quarterly meetings on your next 
round. I wish to visit my tried and beloved friend, H. S. Fer- 
nandes, of Rushville, once more before he takes his place with 
the redeemed in heaven. Possibly if you have a quarterly 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 187 



meeting near there it might come in my way to visit him then. 
I forget, however, whether your district embraces Rushville, 
but suppose it must, of course." 

To his beloved son : 

" Cincinnati, March 13, 1845. 
" We were very glad to receive yours of last week ; and as 
we are about to leave the city for a few days to go down the 
river, I write in haste, that you may get a letter before we 
return. 

" We have just escaped a journey to Baltimore, as a letter 
came from Bishop Waugh last week urging Bishop Morris and 
myself to come on to the conference there. As Bishop Morris 
concluded not to go, it was a relief to me, as we could have 
no meeting of the superintendents if one were absent. But it 
is possible that other letters will come, rendering it necessary 
that we should hasten East ; and if so, of course we shall not 
be able to see you. But if not we hope to meet you in Xenia 
in about three weeks. We will give you notice. Pray much, 
my son. Don't forget how hard the heart becomes if we give 
up, or forget, or disrelish our devotions. I trust you fulfill the 
resolution you formed in regard to reading each night after 
prayers. Your last letter is silent in regard to your state of 
mind. This made us feel bad; but we commit you to God 
with many prayers. 

" Your dear mother sends much love." 

To his friends in New York, March, 1845 : 

" With salutations and many fervent thanks for your last and 
all former letters, I will if strength permits make you the return 
of a letter, though it shall be far from repaying you for yours. 
The return of spring brings with it something of the debility 
and lassitude, or whatever it may be, which I felt last year, and 
I cannot write but a few moments at a sitting. My system 
under the effort becomes almost paralyzed. You must excuse 
therefore the hurry which may mark my effort. 

" Much of the time since I wrote last I have been living very 
near to the fountain, drinking and quenching my thirst. For a 
week I have been unusually low in my enjoyments, living by a 



188 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



faith which seems unusually barren, and I have thought weak 
and diseased ; but I am struggling against unbelief and think 
Christ will conquer for me, and more than conquer. What a 
privilege it would be to-night to kneel with Brother and Sister 
P. in the back parlor, just by a corner of the sofa, 1 where prayer 
is wont to be made,' and by associations, as well as strong cry- 
ing and tears, get my faith renewed ; but in that near neighbor- 
hood I doubt not God has witnessed the past week wrestlings 
of soul for me. And why I should doubt I know not, that the 
Hearer of prayer has heard and will answer, as though I had 
been present to listen with my ears, and to feel the power of 
the living voice in its strong and impressive appeals to mfinite 
pity in my behal£ I am sure, I think I am, that Brother and 
Sister P. do pray for me, because they must be most deeply 
convinced that of all their friends I am among, nay, I must say 
the most needy. How pressing are my necessities. My body is 
diseased, my strength is going to decay, my heart is weak, my 
faith needs extra proppings all the time to save it from yield- 
ing, my comforts are sometimes scanty and seem to be drying 
up, and under so many abstinences of body and of soul, cares 
which I was scarcely equal to with strength and full and over- 
flowing grace, press on a weakened and disheartened outward 
and inward frame. See, O see, how your unworthy brother 
needs your prayers ! 

u I will not yield to these discouragements. I will still follow 
on to know the Lord and do my Master's work. I do rejoice in 
a full salvation. I cannot say now if I will see you this year. 
I must leave that to Providence. May be in May I may come 
to you by the will of God. Mrs. H. has another daguerreotype 
I should like you to see. The 'Way of Holiness' is in her 
hand, not in yours, but with the cover in view and the letter- 
ing on the side recognizable to one familiar with the book. 

" These are small matters, when we shall have the immortal 
features of Christ's dear redeemed ones radiant in the beauty of 
Tiolinm before our eyes, with a vision as immortal as the immac- 
ulate graces on which we gaze. O think of it ! Christ will be 
reflected in every grace, will shine in every luster out-beaming 
from those which we shall see and love in all eternity. We, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : SECOND YEAR. 189 



beloved, are hastening to that world, and shall soon be thus 
immortal in grace and in vision. Glory be to the Father, and 
to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost for ever and ever. Amen ! " 

" Xenta, April 4, 1845. 
" Rev. William H. Raper, — We left Cincinnati on Wednes- 
day morning and reached here yesterday. We expect to leave 
again on Saturday (to-morrow) and spend the day in Columbus. 
I regret that we cannot reach Zanesville ; but as no coaches 
left this morning, we cannot proceed without traveling in the 
night. 

" I thought you would be interested in learning that our dear 
Brother Goode reached Cincinnati Wednesday morning from 
the Indian Mission Conference, and spent an hour with me 
before I left home. As some of his communications were strictly 
confidential, I cannot speak of them even to you, from whom I 
do not feel careful to conceal any of my own secrets. But I 
will say generally that his communications lead me exceedingly 
to fear that the secession of the South is not only inevitable 
from the state of feeling there, but that it will involve much 
more of stubborn hostility to the North and to the Methodist 
Episcopal Church than I expected. O this acrimony among 
Christians and Christian ministers, the disciples and apostles of 
Jesus Christ ! I am sick at heart as I consider its prevalence 
and its effects. I trust our hearts will be kept free. I would 
choose to love my enemy with his dagger in my heart, and kiss 
the hand which stabs, rather than possess the feelings of suspi- 
cion, jealousy, and uncharitableness, which I fear now occupy 
some bosoms in the Church of God. Am I in this uncharitable ? 
I fear I may be ; for while charity is the most desirable of all 
graces as being the fruit and the fragrance of all, it is at the 
same time the most difficult of them all to acquire and to retain. 
How easy is it to offend against charity ! A word, a whisper, a 
motion of the pen, a blush upon the cheek, a tremor of the lip, 
a glance of the eye. O how deeply can any one of these wound 
so delicate a grace as charity ! 

"My dear brother, let us strive against all; and whatever 
else we are, have charity. Let me know little, do little, say 



190 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



little, and that to little purpose through incapacity; but may I 
not have little charity? This is a good time to cultivate the 
grace. If others are suspicious of us we will be open-bosomed 
to them, if we dare come near enough to be anything to them. 
If they look askance, we will gaze back in a straight line. If they 
accuse its, we will accuse them. If they look bitter, we will feel 
sweet. If they revile, we will mingle louder blessings with 
their fainter faultings. We will strive to drown out their dis- 
quieting and sickening humors with the soft and wholesome 
drenchings of unsubdued love. 

"I will not prolong my scribbling till I make my letter 
itself an imcharity, against which I write so phillipically. I 
ask your prayers, my dear brother, that these good purposes 
in regard to charity may all be fulfilled by the grace of God 
in me. Perhaps I may see you somewhere in May, though 
I cannot feel assured where, if alive and well, I shall spend 
that month." 

His diary, Hanover, April 18, says: 

"I left Cincinnati on the 2d inst., and spent the Sabbath, 
April 6th, in Columbus, the 13th at Newark, (quarterly meet- 
ing,) and am resting here with my friend, Brother Denman, a 
day or two. Find that Jesus is still with me. I have had some 
severe trials about the Church. Though my own condition has 
been what many would call a trying one, I have cared little 
for myself. My General Conference speech is charged by the 
South and its friends as being a grievous eviL I cannot see it 
in this light, and until I can I shall rejoice that it was deliv- 
ered. If the South secede, they must answer it. The leaders 
in this business of secession will have heavy accounts to settle 
with the Great Judge. If not the present, some future genera- 
tion will have woe enough as the result of this madness. I am 
not sure that the agents will not be the victims also. 

" As to the Methodist Episcopal Church, she is safe, secession 
or no secession ; as long as she abides by the Bible and Disci- 
pline she is safe. Her refuge is the God of Jacob. She will 
arise and shine — 'will become fair as the moon, clear as the sun, 
and terrible as an army with banners.' 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 191 



u My work is approacliing. Pittsburgh Conference is in about 
ten weeks. O my blessed Saviour, help me ! Prepare me with 
wisdom and meekness, and all necessary qualifications for my 
work. Help, blessed Saviour, for thy precious name's sake, and 
thine shall be the glory forever. Amen !" 

" Zanesvtlle, Ohio, May 1, 1845. 
" To Rev. Bishop "Waugh, — Learning that the Baltimore Con- 
ference has voted in favor of a General Conference next spring, 
I write to suggest what has probably before this occurred to 
your own mind ; but which, in that case, you will learn by my 
letter has also employed my thoughts. If there be no separa- 
tion accomplished by the Louisville Convention, I suppose a 
General Conference might be desirable. But until quite recently 
I have supposed that if there should be a separation (as is most 
probable) no General Conference would be necessary. I now 
doubt whether, the separation being effected, it will not be of 
the greatest moment that there be a called General Conference. 
The reasons are the following : First. There is a strong prob- 
ability that the societies in Kentucky and Missouri will be 
divided, some adhering to the Church and some choosing to 
separate. As the case now stands it seems to me that a General 
Conference must determine what shall be done with these 
divided societies. Second. There is a strong probability that in 
Kentucky and Missouri there will be a respectable minority of 
traveling preachers who will not go with the separatists. Sup- 
pose there are twenty or thirty in each conference who adhere 
to the Church, what shall be done with them ? The bishops 
can employ them in other conferences, but from other confer- 
ences they cannot send them into Kentucky and Missouri, as 
they have no power to take a part of Kentucky into Ohio, or a 
part of Missouri into Illinois or Iowa. And as the case now 
stands with the ? report of the committee of nine,' acted on and 
adopted by the last General Conference, they would probably 
not feel authorized to form a small minority of the Kentucky 
and Missouri traveling preachers into annual conferences, and 
go on with the work there as usual. To save them from this em- 
barrassment, ought there not to be a called General Conference ? 



192 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" I know not whether the Baltimore Conference elected dele- 
gates. It was not necessary for it or Philadelphia to do so 
until next year ; but from New York on it will be necessary to 
attend to this duty. I am now of the opinion that it will be 
better to prepare the way by the votes of annual conferences 
for a General Conference next May, and if the superintendents 
find at last that no such conference is necessary, they can arrest 
it and save the incidental trouble, expense, and loss of time to 
the pastorship of the Church. I would be glad, before the 
session of the Pittsburgh Conference, to learn your views, that 
if they differ from those herein expressed I may be aware of it 
as I proceed with my labors. I shall probably have Bishop 
Morris with me at the Pittsburgh and Erie Conferences. I am 
improving in health, can preach from four to seven sermons a 
week without danger, and do so continually, and can say, ' The 
best of all is, God is with us." 1 I am now sitting by the sick 
(and probably death) bed of H. L. Fernandes, one of our holiest 
and loveliest ministers, who waits in perfect peace for 'the 
chariot.' O blessed hope ! " 

" Cectchotati, May 19, 1845. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Having but a few moments, and too 
much to say to employ them to use in the haste of expressing 
crowded thoughts, I will do the best I can. My great desire is 
to write not to your profit, for you do not need my ministra- 
tions. But I come with petitions for yours. What I said at 
New York comes fresh and impressively to my mind this morn- 
ing. ' You prayed me into my field of labor, and now you must 
pray me through.'' If you ask what need? Special need of 
prayer, I answer. 

" First. Not because I am oackslidden. Thanks be to God 
for his preserving grace 1 Jesus is with me continually, and the 
light of God's face shines upon me gloriously. 

" Second. Not because I fear for myself. I mean not because 
I have harassing or distressing fears. I believe God will keep 
me, and enable me to run the race to the end. 

" Third. Not because my faith in God — his love and promises — 
is diminished at all. I feel a strong reliance, and can cast all 
my care on him who careth for me and for his Church. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 



193 



" But still I need your prayers especially. The usual modes 
of procedure are all forsaken and lost sight of in these times of 
discord and blasphemy. These are eminently 1 perilous times.' 
Men who are called to occupy any prominent place in the 
Church must suffer, so far as the worst forms of wicked preju- 
dice and (I regret to say) malignity are permitted by Provi- 
dence to flow out toward them and reach them. With their 
integrity and reputation the Church is in some degree united. 
In regard to this fact I need your prayers. 

" Returning from a six weeks' tour of severe labor through 
Central Ohio a -few days since, I met, on returning to the city, 
the notice of Brother L.'s charge, that I was the writer of an 
editorial in Dr. Elliott's paper abusing Bishop Andrew — an 
article that I had no more to do with than Bishop Andrew 
himself, being, as appears on subsequent inquiry, one hundred 
miles off when it was written and published. I send you the 
■ Advocate ' which contradicts the charge. Think of this. The 
charge originated with two Methodist preachers in Cincinnati, as 
far as can be learned. On the ground of that charge I have 
been held up in the Louisville Convention to the execration of 
all listeners each day for three weeks. The publication of the 
charge is in the Southern Church papers, and will doubtless 
go through all the press, and never will be contradicted, except in 
Northern papers. Now, I say once more, pray for me. This is 
a trial of no ordinary magnitude. 

" I now cease to afflict you with my complaints, and ask you 
to help me to surrender them up to God. My running pen and 
blind letters will hardly let you read what I write ; but I must 
hastily close." 

" Marietta, June 14, 1845. 
"To Rev. Bishop Morris, — Yours of the 12th inst. was duly 
received to-day by Brother Spencer. I expected it would be 
inconvenient for you to visit New York on so brief a notice. 
I regret that it so happens. I had concluded to stay here and 
have an interview with you, and scarcely know now how you 
will avoid Marietta on your way to Wheeling. But I think 
my best way will be to spend the Sabbath in Wellsburgh, and 
come down to Wheeling on Monday morning the 23d. If not 

9 



194 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



I will, Providence permitting, be at Wheeling over the Sabbath. 
Wellsburgh was my first field of labor, and I should be pleased 
to see the people once more. 

" Will not Sister Morris do us the favor to visit Wheeling 
with you, and then accompany us to Beaver and spend the time 
of conference with Mrs. H. ? In that way, though my disap- 
pointment at the loss of your company and counsel will not be 
made up, yet her prayers will help me, and Mrs. H. is calculat- 
ing on a better acquaintance with her at that time. After con- 
ference we will take her to Pittsburgh, where on your return it 
will be convenient for you to meet her, or she can meet you 
anywhere on the river as you shall direct. If any change 
shall be made in the £ plan,' it may be it will allow you to be 
with me at Erie, for which I should be grateful. 

" With you I am disappointed. I am so in regard to editors. 
They have a stern sense of duty, and are immovably fixed. But 
some of them are my very best personal friends and highly 
valued — true in their aim, however mistaken in their means. 
I am willing to bear the reputation of being their confidants in 
matters which have not my concurrence, but my disapproval, 
rather than occasion another note of discord among brethren. 
I cannot see what I have done to divide the Church. I made 
a speech, in which I did not name slavery, abolition, the North, 
the South, Bishop Andrew, Baltimore, Harding, or anything 
else, except the powers of General Conference and those of the 
superintendents, and thought it would be faultless in one 
respect, namely, it would be modest and no slander. But it has 
turned out the worst speech of the fifty, and I give up. I have 
been in Cincinnati about twelve weeks in fourteen months, and 
have never written a private letter to Cincinnati on Church 
difficulties, or a line or a word touching them; but they say 
I have written nearly all the editorials in the Western Christian 
Advocate, and much of the correspondence ! Thank God I have 
had a happy year, and oceans of comfort flow to and over my 
soul this day ! I am prepared to suffer all that can befall me 
from the smallest wound to a martyred life, if God give me 
grace as hitherto, for he has been a 4 shield to me, and the lifter 
up of my head.' "... 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 195 



"Marietta, June 17, 1845. 

" To Key. Bishops Hedding and Waugh, — Your letter was 
received by due course of mail, and forwarded to Bishop Morris. 
After having considered the proposition to postpone the Pitts- 
burgh Conference, I came to the conclusion that it could not 
be done at so late a period without great embarrassment to the 
preachers, and considerable detriment to the work. Many of 
the preachers would have met the notice on their way to con- 
ference, and probably two weeks of ministerial labor would have 
been lost thereby. In these circumstances I did not notify a 
delay of the session. It was a further question whether I should 
leave to the conference to elect a presiding officer, and in that 
way get to your meeting. But as it is a border conference, 
embracing a portion of Virginia, I did not deem this proper, 
and of course must be absent on the 2d from your consultations, 
which I exceedingly regret, chiefly because I need the light 
which I might have received at your sittings on the weighty 
themes upon which you will deliberate. Unless I can receive 
notice by letter of your decisions previous to the close of the 
Pittsburgh Conference, I shall be liable to deviate on some 
points from that line of conduct which you will deem most 
advisable. In looking forward to changes which I deemed 
necessary in conference action in the present posture of affairs, 
I had meditated thus : 

" 1. The Methodist Episcopal Church now consists of twenty- 
three annual conferences, besides Liberia. 

" 2. These conferences should from this time be superintended, 
or presided over, by the bishops who intend to remain in her 
communion. 

" 3. Their plan of visitations should be so shaped as to secure 
this object. 

" 4. The * allowance' and the 1 traveling expenses' of the said 
bishops should be apportioned to and collected of the twenty- 
three annual conferences aforesaid without regard to the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South. 

" What other questions, or whether these even will employ 
your meditations, etc., I cannot conjecture. But praying in your 
behalf all grace and wisdom, and believing that your course 



196 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



will be tlicreon directed, I shall not fear to pledge a cheerful 
acquiescence in all your decisions." 

" Marietta, Ohio, June 17. 
" To Db. and Mrs. P., — Mrs. Hamline lias written in, I 
trust, a style more discouraging regarding herself than facts 
wiTl warrant. I believe we are growing ' up into Him in all 
things.' You know there are seasons of trial, and in the 
midst of these we are at our ' wits' end.' These storms are 
succeeded again by pleasant holy calms, and then, when we 
can take observations and learn the course we have run, 
we find the heavenly Pilot steered our craft skillfully amid 
the tempest, and we made headway all the time. I feel just 
now a very strong faith in God both for myself and Mrs. 
H. We shall conquer; rather, Christ for us. I often think I 
feel the answer to my dear brother and sister's prayers. I 
believe I do. 

" We are now on our way to conference. But for the time of 
the bishops' meeting I should, with the favor of Providence, 
have seen you a few days. I confess it is a disappointment. 
Pittsburgh Conference sits on the second of July. It is a 
border conference, with free and slave territory, the first that 
has sat since the secession. Delicate questions and interests 
are before us. I expected Bishop Morris to be with and aid 
me, but he is called away. Now pray for me day by day 
while attending this conference. O for wisdom which ' is from 
above ! ' 

" The work is going on. Ministers are getting roused to 
the subject of entire sanctification. We have preached in 
this place four times since Saturday. Twice on 'Blessed are 
the pure in heart,' and 'Blessed are they who hunger and 
thirst after righteousness.' I believe our labor is not in vain in 
the Lord. The preachers were stirred up, and the people are 
not air dead to the theme. My heart is glad. 

" Dearly beloved, pray ! pray ! May He whose Church needs 
your labors restore your health. Much love to the family. 
Bless the Lord, O my soul ! 

" Mrs. P.'s little book is a treasure. Thank God that he put 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 197 



it in her heart to write. May she live to write at least two 
more books if the Lord please ! 

" July 9, 1845. — Closed the Pittsburgh Conference at Beaver; 
had a blessed season. This is a large and pious body of minis- 
ters. They go out in the spirit of their Master." 

" "Wellseurgh, Va., June 25, 1845. 

" To Rev. Bishops Hedding and Waugh, — Your letter w r as 
duly received and forwarded to Bishop Morris. He will do 
me the favor to explain the reasons of my absence. I regret 
that I cannot be with you so as to be aided by your counsels in 
the duties which lie instantly before me. 

" What points you will discuss I can only conjecture. Prob- 
ably an early question will be, * Is there a separation ? ' With 
hesitation (from the fact that some whose opinions weigh much 
with me think otherwise) I deem the 'Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South' as fully organized. It seems to me that its 
General Conference meets next May not to form an organiza- 
tion, but under an organization already formed, which has 
provided for holding said conference, has dictated its ratio of 
representation, has appointed its time of meeting, and, by the 
adoption of a Discipline, imposed on it its duties, clothed it 
with its powers, and limited its action in all respects. Further- 
more it is evident to me that nine tenths or more of the 
preachers and the people in the separated conferences approve 
of, or assent to the organization. 

" To view the organization as complete seems to me not only 
in harmony with facts, but also of safe tendency. The Louis- 
ville Convention affirms its entire separation in its resolutions, 
announces it to the people in its pastoral address, and insists 
on it in many forms, protesting against all ' entangling alliances ' 
with the Methodist Episcopal Church in tones of deep and 
solemn earnestness. Shall we be compelled from our views of 
the immaturity of their action, which they insist is final, still to 
interfere with them ? If so, surely it is a misfortune, a duty 
which involves a heavy cross ; yet if my elder colleagues, better 
informed than I can be, so decide I cheerfully acquiesce. 

" But if you say the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is 



198 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



organized, you will probably form a new plan of episcopal 
visitations : and though, as last year, the bishops have all an 
equal disciplinary right to visit all or any part of the work, (a 
right of which none can be divested but by the ; committee of 
nine' or the General Conference.) yet for the promotion of 
peace I suppose each bishop will go where his visits are likely 
to be acceptable and produce happy results. If any of us can 
certainly determine whether we will serve the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church, or the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, would 
it not be better to regard that fact ? If so. adhering as I do to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, I so far beg your indulgence 
as to ask a release from obligations to labor in conferences 
represented in the Louisville Convention, three of which are 
embraced in my circuit next year. 

Though I view the separation as now a matter of history, 
and would incline to a plan of episcopal labors embracing only 
twenty-three American conferences, yet I deem that the Book 
Concern forms a tie of incidental but not organic connection 
between the two Churches. I believe the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, South, has an equitable interest in its capital and claim 
to its profits. Of course I suppose its dividends should reach 
them : but here I beg permission to suggest a thought. Should 
the dividends to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, be 
made on the usual basis which gave the sixteen conferences 
$16,000 last year, or on the basis suggested by the 'report of 
the committee of nine ? ■ I think on the latter basis, because it 
is equitable, and because it meets the demands of the conven- 
tion at Louisville, which claims of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church that the provisions of that report shall be adhered to. 
To go on the old basis will give them §1G,000, when the new 
one will give them about #12.000. as may be seen by calcula- 
tion, and as three of their small conferences have scarcely more 
members than one of our smallest, the new basis is, I should 
think, the right one. To conclude, if anything is expressed 
dogmatically in this letter, let me assure you it is not a flow of 
temper, but a lack of that grace of utterance which I admire in 
others, but could never well compass myself. I feared you 
would claim some expression of views, or I should have chosen 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 199 



silence, and speaking at all, I was forced to speak thus from a 
belief that any mingling of the work of the two Churches now 
will prolong war and not restore peace. True policy seems to 
require that our herdsmen and then flocks turn at present to 
the right and to the left and feed apart till strifes are forgotten 
and wounds healed. May Infinite Wisdom guide you for 
Christ's sake ! " 

u Wellsbtjbgh, June, 1845. 

" My beloved Son, — It seems that the affections, if not the 
intellect, strengthen with age, and this I have evidence of in 
the affectionate concern I have for you. The Lord bless you, 
my son, and keep you from evil ! This is an evil world, and 
its evils are evidently on the increase ; but while the wicked 
do wickedly, I believe the pious are more devoted, and that 
righteousness as well as iniquity abounds. 

" We are now on ' old Ohio Circuit,' in the place where I 
first traveled. 

" Wellsburgh, Va., is a beautiful place on the south bank of 
the Ohio, a few miles above Wheeling. Here we have received 
a truly warm greeting, and have been often overwhelmed by 
the pressure of friends. I would be delighted to have you 
travel with us through this part of Virginia. Your dear 
mother left you fourteen years ago in the hands of Mrs. Kent 
four weeks when you were about eighteen months old, and went 
around this circuit with me. It is a sad gratification to think 
of this as we visit along among friends. Let us be sure that 
we prepare to rejoin our dear friends who now look down 
and watch us in the kingdom of God." 

"Beaver, July 16, 1845. 

" To the Rev. J. Young, — Yours was duly received, and is 
gratefully acknowledged. Though hurried, I cannot deny 
myself the pleasure of a brief reply. 

"Our conference has passed off delightfully. It was an 
orderly, devout, and happy season as far as I can learn, and is 
said to have been the shortest and most harmonious session the 
conference has had since its formation. About two hundred 
preachers were stationed. We closed on Wednesday noon. I 



200 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



have heard not a word about secession, and I think the 
Virginia work is so manned that all will be quiet among 
them. Bishop Morris reached here from New York about an 
hour after the adjournment of conference on "Wednesday, and 
left on Monday. We have had much pleasant conversa- 
tion together. You will have learned by the New York 
Advocate something of their decisions at New York. I have to 
prosecute my tour to Erie, North Ohio, Ohio, and North 
Indiana. Bishop Morris will attend the Indiana Conference at 
Madison. I hope to be with him there. There is a decrease 
of between two and three thousand in the Pittsburgh Confer- 
ence this year. I have enjoyed the privilege of meeting many 
of our old friends. I preached at Wellsburgh three times, at 
Worthington's once, and once at Liberty. I intended to go to 
Short Creek, but got tired, and feared I was laboring too 
much. The Virginia friends were most hearty and kind in 
their welcome, and made me feel that it was good to see them. 
Our visit was a pious one, and some seemed greatly stirred up 
by our unworthy efforts. Praise God ! 

" I am now at Brother Darragh's, a good old Irish brother, 
who speaks very kindly of Sister Young, having known her 
in early times. We have a pleasant temporary home. Wo 
start to-morrow for Newcastle. I would like it if you could 
send me a letter there mailed any time before the twenty- 
third of July. I want to hear what is going on, especially 
the good. 

" I had a conversation with Bishop Morris about your ap- 
pointment. Pray, my dear brother, that God may direct me in 
all things, and in this among all the rest. I look forward with 
trembling to the Ohio Conference. 

" Tell Brother Elliott that whether I can agree with him in 
every minute particular or not, I love him next to my Saviour 
and my family. He is a friend with whom, as with you, I can 
trust everything I have in this world. I am sure that if there 
should be various opinions between us there will be one feeling. 
He is one man who regards not self more than the Church, but 
the Church far more than self. O for thousands such in Israel ! 
I would be glad to hear from him. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : SECOND YEAR. 201 



" If you do not write until after the twenty-third of July, 
please direct to Marion, Ohio. 

" The Lord be with you, my beloved brother ! A few more 
storms and we will be harbored and anchored. This is a good, 
a holy morning to me. I dwell in Him. O the bliss of a 
sacred union with Christ ! 

" ' Jesus is mine, and I am his, 
What can I want beside ? ' 

" May we keep the unity of the Spirit, and pray for each 
other, bearing one another's burdens." 

" Newcastle, Pejtn-., July 19. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — ¥e have had a good conference. 
It was soon over, closing on Wednesday noon, the shortest 
session we have ever had, yet we had time for religious exhort- 
ations in the conference room, which seemed to do good. They 
say it was the shortest and most harmonious session they have 
ever had. We thank God and take courage. 

" We are going to start in a few minutes to a quarterly 
meeting four miles in the country, and return on Sabbath 
evening to labor here. This is a town of one thousand souls, 
and the conference (Erie) commences here on Wednesday next. 
You will get this in time to plead with God for us. By his 
grace we mean to dwell on the great theme. Pray for the 
ministers. My soul prospers, and nothing moves me. I seem 
to breathe the very odors of the heavenly world. 

" ' happy day that fixed my choice 
On thee my Saviour and my God I ' " 

July 30 he writes : " Closed the Erie Conference at New- 
castle; a spiritual season. The Lord is pleased to put his 
strength in me that I may serve him. My soul often dwells 
above. My life is hid with Christ. Eternal things come near, 
and earth is all forgotten. Blessed be God ! " 

"August 3, Sabbath, spent in Ravenna, and Sabbath, 10th, 
in Tiffin, Ohio; and on 13th commenced the North Ohio 
Conference in Marion. About twenty preachers present — 

9* 



202 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



talented, devout men. A good session. Parted with my dear 
brethren feeling that it was good to be here. The Lord 
blesses still." 

" Tiffin, Ohio, August 10, 1845. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — A day of unusual peace, triumph, 
glory in Christ, bears my frequent sympathies to your happy 
home, where Christ my Saviour is honored and adored. I long 
to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, as 
yet I fear never having been able but simply to receive through 
you from the fountain. But it is ' blessed to receive ' as well as 
to give, and it is blessed to remember with holy and affectionate 
gratitude those ~by whom, as well as him from whom, cometh 
' every good and every perfect gift.' I thank and bless you in 
the name of the Lord ! 

" Truly do I feel to-day ' the Lord of Hosts is with us, the 
God of Jacob is our refuge." What does this imply ? Does it 
not mean that the Providence which led and guarded, which 
involved and delivered Jacob, is ours as well as his providence ? 
That the strength and grace which were his are ours also ? 
This thought just now is present with me in new force and 
power, and comes as a fresh, new charm over my rejoicing and 
exulting spirit. And it is the God of 'hosts' also who is with 
us. What does that mean? Surely that many, very many, 
even to filling the mountains or plains around us with armed 
chariots for our defense and deliverance, accompany Jehovah 
to serve the purposes of his love toward us. O blessed words 
when understood and felt — ' the Lord of hosts is with us, the 
God of Jacob is our refuge.' Thanks to his name for the 
blessed record ! 

" Wednesday, August 27. — After so long a time I resume the 
'thread' of my letter, which I was compelled to break off in a 
hurry. I am now waiting to commence the Ohio Conference. 
I trust this letter will reach you before it closes, that you may 
receive one more exhortation to pray for its success. Here is 
the only point where a formidable effort will be made toward 
distracting the minds and the affections of brethren in connec- 
tion with our Church difficulties. Here are elements whose 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 



203 



proper and expected working will be every way unprofitable 
and uncomfortable. A small number, to be sure, will meditate 
and plot ' mischievous devices,' but they may be opposed in so 
indiscreet a manner as to affect the interests of the Church un- 
favorably. The friends of Christ and of holiness may err. Pray 
much, constantly, that God may rule and overrule, and make 
his friends and faithf al ministers, of whom there are many here, 
firm and wise. Could we have such a session of the confer- 
ence in Cincinnati as we had at Beaver and other points, it 
would be a great blessing to this city, and to our brethren in 
the ministry. It commences on Wednesday, September 3, and 
will continue about twelve days. 

"We have it in mind to see you in the spring, and be re- 
freshed with your fellowship. I would be pleased to meet you 
all as a family once more this side heaven; then beyond the 
vail. Several of my choice friends have died this year in the 
West. Father Collins, of precious memory, was buried last 
Sabbath. Seldom has a saint and minister departed who had 
looked longer and more wistfully for the coming crown. It 
seems as though, when he entered within the gates, all things 
must have been a little extra, so long and unweariedly and ex- 
pectingly had he waited and toiled for the blissful hour. Father 
Collins is in heaven ! I long to see how he looks there, and hear 
how he talks about things which he was always talking about 
on earth. The last time I saw him he said : ' I scarce ever take 
up the Advocate but I read of some pious friend gone to glory. 
And die when I may, my godly friends are going so fast that I 
think I shall fall in company with some of them as I mount 
upward in the chariot.' 

"This letter will be handed you probably by our beloved 
Brother and Sister Strobridge, dear Christian, guileless friends. 
They long for perfect liberty, and she has often entered the 
borders of the land Beulah, but was hindered from dwelling 
there by unbelief. May the Master give our dear sister P. a 
message for her soul. 

"Mrs. H. repeats her oft-repeated love to you all; and the 
blessing of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be with your 
spirits. Amen." 



204 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE, 



It would seem from the tenor of the remarks in the following 
letter, written by Bishop Hamline to the Rev. Mr. Quigley, that 
some minister of the North Ohio Conference had indulged in 
unjust animadversions of a speech made by the bishop, setting 
forth his views of ministerial fidelity on the theme of holiness. 
On this subject he was thoroughly Wesley an in his views, be- 
lieving, as expressed by the founder of Methodism, that this is 
" the Methodist testimony, the peculiar doctrine committed to 
our trust ; and where this is enforced by the preachers, as a 
blessing to be received now, and to be received by faith, there 
Methodism prospers, and where not thus enforced it does not." 
At all the conferences where he presided, as a faithful "son in 
the gospel" of the sainted Wesley, he aimed in his addresses to 
the ministers to enforce the advice of that apostolic man : " All 
our preachers should make a point of preaching perfection to 
believers, constantly, strongly, explicitly." And in doing this 
he generally, by his loving persuasiveness, and the might of an 
indwelling Trinity, carried the ministers with Mm in a manner 
that astonished himself and disarmed opposers. But, as already 
stated, he sometimes provoked hostility. It would seem from the 
tone of the subjoined letter that his words had been misconstrued : 

"My remarks were : 

" * " Preach holiness," says Mr. Wesley, " earnestly, constantly. 
Preach that it is to be obtained now, and by faith alone." Don't 
fail to do it, brethren. Some may discourage you. They may 
say, as has been said, "it is your hobby." I don't like that 
word " hobby" in such a connection. But if it means a favorite 
theme, let it be so. In this sense it should be our hobby. We 
were " raised up to spread' scriptural holiness." If this is what 
is meant, the Saviour Jesus Christ made it a hobby ; he came 
to "purify," to "cleanse" the Church. His apostles were sent 
for the same end. The Gospel has this sole aim. Though I 
dislike the word, if it mean this, let us be content. For are we 
not all at work for this very purpose, to spread holiness ? Are 
we not all pledged (by that altar confession on which we were 
received into the conference and elected to orders) to a belief 
of the doctrine of entire sanctification ? If a traveling minister, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 205 



who lias given that vow or pledge of faith in the doctrine, 
shonld come to deny the truth of it, would it not weaken the 
confidence of the Church in his integrity, to say nothing of his 
intelligence. How would such a brother get along in his 
appropriate work of spreading holiness ? Would he be useful ? 
Were it my duty to station him, I should feel like trying to find 
the place where he will do, not the most good, but the least harm? 

"I believe the above does not differ I may say 'one whit' 
from the significancy of those words and phases in which I 
uttered myself at the conference ; and I further believe that the 
words are almost, I will not say identically throughout, the same. 
And I don't take back anything. If I could now see your con- 
ference together, I should perhaps be forced to repeat them 
with a more serious emphasis. I have no confidence in a Meth- 
odist preacher who ' subscribes the Thirty-nine Articles,' (to 
speak in figure,) and then goes forth, preaching or talking 
against the most vital and fundamental portions of his creed. 
And I shall, if God spares me, do just what I said. If the con- 
ference will not arrest them, I will do all I can to hinder the 
mischief. But you will see this has nothing to do with ' pro- 
fessing the blessing.' I should think a man who can put such 
words into my mouth might be capable of denying ' perfect 
love,' after giving the altar pledges of which I speak. Those 
beloved brethren who are not yet able to receive and profess 
the blessing, but unyieldingly make it an article of their creed, 
and are longing for it, and sometimes tremblingly try to preach 
it, are near to me. I have been where they are. Heaven for- 
bid that I should doubt their sincerity or usefulness. I pray 
God to bless them ! 

" Dr. S. showed me an article from Brother Prentiss. I begged 
him to publish no reply to W. Itself was its own best cure. 
Besides, God must take care of us or nobody can. In your 
movements keep looking upward. God is a refuge for us, and 
a strong tower from the enemy. You may well be grieved, but 
not for yourself. If the Church and her altars need purifying, 
(and does she not?) you may have to act, but even then be 
sure the Captain of the Lord's host goes before you. The Lord 
will guide." 



206 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



In the above we see that Bishop H. did not account it a virtue 
to be silent and undemonstrative when the cardinal doctrine of 
Methodism was jeopardized Having been called by the Head 
of the Church to an oversight of the flock, as one among its 
chief shepherds, he did not feel at liberty to keep silence in re- 
gard to a doctrine so vital to the interests of the Church, or to let 
it pass unreproved. There are occasions when silence, or in fact 
non-commitalism, amounts to virtual treachery, and Bishop H. 
was not the man to be guilty of this. In the statement of his 
views, as expressed in the preceding letter, there is scarcely as 
much pointed rebuke as was often administered under similar 
circumstances by Mr. Wesley, particularly in a letter written to 
the Rev. Dr. Adam Clarke, which we will here transcribe : 

"Loitdo>~, November 26, 1790. 

" Dear Adam, — The account you send me of the continuance 
of the great work of God in Jersey gives me great satisfaction. 
To retain the grace of God is much more than to gain it; 
hardly one in three does this. And this should be strongly and 
explicitly urged on all who have tasted of perfect love. If you 
can prove that any of our preachers or leaders, either directly 
or indirectly, speak against it, let him be a preacher or leader 
no longer. I doubt whether he should continue in the society, 
because he that could speak thus in our congregations cannot 
be an honest man. 

" I wish Sister Clarke to do what she can, but no more than 
she can. Betsy Ritchie, Mrs. Johnson, and M. Clarke are women 
after my own heart. Last week I had an excellent letter from 
Mrs. Pawson, (a glorious witness of full salvation,) showing how 
impossible it is to retain pure love without growing therein." — 
Works, voL vii, p. 206. 

To a minister who desired to know his views in regard to 
the profession of entire sanctification the bishop wrote the ac- 
companying most excellent and pertinent letter : 

" Indianapolis, September 21, 1845. 
u While I greatly rejoice to observe any tokens of interest 
awakened among the preachers on the subject of entire sancti- 
fication, I ought not to conceal my embarrassment that in- 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 



207 



quiries should be directed to me, who am so incompetent in 
point of theory and experience to teach any but the merest 
catechumens, nor even them if some other (an 'instructed 
scribe ') were present to perform the office ; but as you question 
me I dare not wholly decline to reply with the best light I 
have. Alas that I have no more, for I find it possible to have 
a saving light without that degree or sort of illumination which 
prepares one to act as counselor or guide. 

" Your history is not singular. On every side, go where we 
please, are ministers who once entered the land ' Beulah ' to be 
drawn from it again by the devices you have mentioned. Some 
aged, or influential, or popular, or witty, or fashionable minister 
of Christ warned them not to be talking about perfect love, 
and they fell, and passed years of grief or carelessness before 
they recovered the lost treasure. One recently on his death- 
bed, who never was surpassed in the Ohio Annual Conference 
for his consistent, uniform piety and usefulness, informed me 
that he was brought low in the manner, the very manner you 
relate of yourself, and for ^ears did not rise again to his former 
state of enjoyment. But not to dwell on this unpleasant 
theme. 

" You ask advice in regard to the prudent method of * mak- 
ing confession.' It seems to me in the first place prudent to 
confess at almost all times in the society of Christians whose 
Church creed or standards assert the doctrine. If they will not 
use your confessions discreetly, and hear them to the glory of 
God, and praise his grace in you, it seems to me they are either 
hypocritical, or ignorant to a degree which involves almost 
equal blame. And especially ministers, whose assumption of 
their sacred functions was with those solemn asseverations and 
pledges, which are found in the fortieth page of our lately 
revised Discipline, would scarcely deserve to be viewed as men 
of common honesty, if they would not patiently and joyfully 
receive the confession of a brother in regard to perfect love. 
The Methodist minister who would presume anything against 
such a profession, and question its discreetness or show aver- 
sion to the topic, ought to be brought to repentance, or, if he 
will preach, ' take orders ' in some other branch of the Church. 



208 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Surely it cannot be casting pearls before swine to confess 
in the class-room or love-feast. It cannot, unless the sheep of 
the fold are swine, and we have hope that it is not so. Thus 
far it seems to me places and circumstances render confession 
prudent. 

" As to the frequency of confession in these circumstances I 
should not think restraint necessary. Confess as often as ex- 
perience teaches you that your spiritual strength and comfort 
will thereby be promoted. Tou say confession helps you, 
comforts you, confirms you. Then I would say keep on con- 
fessing. Do not the converted repeat in love-feast after love- 
feast, in class-meeting after class-meeting, what God has done 
for their souls, and feel blessed in doing so ? Why should not 
you do the same ? If their professing the grace of regeneration 
or justification brings to their souls a fresh strength and spring, 
your confessing all the grace bestowed on you will have the 
same effect. 

" As to the terms of this confession I can see no better way 
than to use the Bible terms. Indeed I can see no equal way. 
Why avoid the words of Scripture? 'Entire sanctification,' 
from the phrase, the God of peace ' sanctify you wholly,' and 
'perfect love,' which is the 'beloved disciples' language,' I 
prefer to all other modes or form3 of confession. Some say 
'you need give it no name,' and perhaps Mr. Wesley once 
leaned to that indulgence ; but this looks a little like not taking 
up the cross. Why should Christians talk so scripturally about 
the 1 new birth,' and study mincing words when they speak of 
other graces ? 

"As to the extent of these confessions I can only say all 
grace given to us is for use, and the chief use of it must be 
its manifestation for the glory of God and the good of his 
people. A holy man used to say that he found he must confess 
' to the utmost limits of all that God bestowed on him, or he 
became impoverished.' I believe the principle. I deem it a 
law of Christian experience that, to speak with a figure, if our 
light be put under a bushel it will expire. Entire sanctifica- 
tion is of itself a light. Hide it, and it will soon be extin- 
guished. Thousands can mournfully testify to this truth. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 209 



Fletcher was a witness. You are one, and these are two 
among a great multitude. 

" You speak of wit and humor, of jokes and anecdotes among 
ministers. Alas ! I cannot dwell here. If there be not a speedy 
end to these, the Church is marred, if not undone. I can only 
say, Keep away from these joking ministers, or get them con- 
verted to God. Swearing and joking are somewhat different, 
and the former is reputed more profane; but as to religion, 
after much experience and observation, I have no doubt that 
they are equally sure to kill religion out of their souls, and make 
the heart, so far as the Spirit's graces are concerned, a desert 
waste. A friend suggests a thought, namely, 'When I was 
young, Methodist ministers were so solemn in all their words 
and actions that a sinner trembled in their presence. But now 
the most worldly and wicked can meet some of our preachers 
and play off their jokes on them, as if sure of being received 
in the spirit of " flail fellow, well met !" ' Is it not too true ? 
O, my brother, let us die rather than contribute one syllable 
or glance to perpetuate those practices which are breaking Zion 
with breach upon breach, and threaten her with a fearful 
overthrow ! Let U3 watch and pray lest we enter into tempta- 
tion. I am on my way to the North Indiana Conference, and 
write in haste. Please forward me another letter when con- 
venient, and remember us in prayer. Shall we celebrate the 
smaller and not the greater works of God ? Shall we sing that 
he brought us out of Egypt, and have no anthem to tell that 
the horse and his rider are cast into the sea ? " 

On the same subject he writes : 

"To Dr. Elliott, — You rightly say in a recent editorial 
that the subject of entire sanctification is exciting unusual in- 
terest in the Church. There are large regions of country in 
which the Wesleyan view of this doctrine has of late been pre- 
sented with marked and happy effects. And as ministers awake 
to its importance, and begin to speak of it in their pulpits, they 
are met with congratulations from the more pious of the people, 
who express joyful surprise at the change which is coming over 
the Church in regard to this theme. So far as the writer has 



t 



210 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



observed, the steps by which religious societies are led to 
cherish a new interest in this subject may be thus described. 

" In the first place, the presiding elder of a district, or the travel- 
ing preacher on a circuit or station, has his attention turned to it 
by some means, and after much questioning with himself as to 
the propriety of such a course, comes to the conclusion, that as 
the doctrine is taught in the Bible, and is a part of the gospel 
which he is sent to preach, it is his duty to dwell upon it in 
his sermons, and urge upon the people their obligations to be 
holy. He begins to preach it. His efforts are hesitating, and 
perhaps intermitted. It often happens that under his preaching 
others are awakened, seek and find the blessing, and begin to 
stand up as its witnesses ; while the minister whose word has 
been blessed to others mingles with his instructions the humble 
confession, 'I have not attained.' More and more humbled, he 
continues to cry unto God; and at last, perhaps under the 
prayer of some sanctified member to whom his own preaching 
had been a savor of this full life, he seizes the prize and enters 
into the glorious liberty. With new zeal and power he now 
testifies what he feels, and the work goes on with a great 
increase. From all I have been able to learn, I infer, First. 
That it is of unspeakable moment to the societies that the 
preachers, whether they enjoy the blessing or not, should at 
once commence preaching the doctrine. Second. That when a 
presiding elder faithfully delivers his own soul in this matter, 
many of the preachers will follow his example. One presiding 
elder lately formed the resolution to preach a sermon on the 
theme at each quarterly meeting, and if I do not forget, six 
preachers professed the blessing on his first round. Third. Where 
the doctrine is preached, it promises no practical good unless it 
is presented in its Wesleyan features, as inculcated in the writ- 
ings of all our standard authors. Fourth. Where the people 
have long been familiarized with the theme and fully credit the 
doctrine, they should be addressed hortatorily ; but where they 
have little of it and are young disciples, they should be care- 
fully instructed. In the first case, preaching it will generally 
produce an immediate interest, but in the latter it may often 
be coldly received. Fifth. Like any other theme in the Chris- 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 211 



tian system, the people should be urged to procure books and 
read concerning it, as the brief and occasional instructions of 
the pulpit are insufficient to afford them a just understanding 
of it. Wesley, Fletcher, Watson, Adam Clarke, Watmough, 
Trefrry, with the biographies of Hester A. Rogers, Mrs. Fletcher, 
Carvosso, and others, are among the best English productions ; 
and Merritt, Peck, ' The Way of Holiness,' and the ' Guide 
to Holiness,' are the best American aids to seekers of the 
blessing. To these I would add our hymns under the head of 
' Full Redemption,' about eighty pages, which the writer would 
not exchange for all the sacred psalmody of mere human com- 
position in the world. Both the seekers and the possessors of 
perfect love should keep some treatise or periodical on the theme 
constantly with them, and never pass a day without reading on 
it as time will allow. The Bible should be always consulted in 
reference to it, and its commands and promises made a heart- 
treasure by all who would be sanctified wholly. 

" As the doctrine is preached and the witnesses of the bless- 
ing multiply, many cautions will be needed. All that grows 
up under this cultivation will not be wheat. First. The people 
should be taught that offenses will come, and should be made 
ready for them. Some will hypocritically and others ignor- 
antly say they are sanctified wholly. Such will bring a reproach 
upon the cause. Second. When this happens the preacher 
should be careful not to draw back, and seem ashamed of the 
doctrine. Let him be forward to bear the reproach, and 
encourage others to do the same. What would be thought of 
a minister who should stop preaching regeneration, because 
some or many who professed to be born again have made ship- 
wreck of faith and become grossly immoral? Third. If tho 
people, some of them, speculate and question in regard to the 
truth of the doctrine, urge them first to seek, and afterward to 
speculate. No man ever did or ever will understand it until 
experience unfolds it. Experience on this theme is as needful 
to understand it as it is on the mysterious theme of the new 
birth. O that all the disputers would become humble seekers ! 
Third. When the blessing is attained the possessor of it should 
be urged to press on. How much depends on this none can 



212 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAilLI^E. 



express, and none but the experienced can conceive. Standing 
still will be fatal to any sanctified soul — fatal, I mean, as to his 
retaining the witness and the comforts of that state. 

M I would suggest that we who profess to believe in this doc- 
trine should be most careful of our language in regard to it. 
Let us never speak of it with lightness. If the doctrine is true, 
it is most sacredly and solemnly true. Sometimes I have heard 
it said of an erring or an accused brother, he is one of your 
sanctified Christians. I care not what offense is charged on 
that brother; in nine cases out of ten, at a venture, I would 
rather be guilty of his offense, than to have been the author 
of such a remark concerning him. For that remark was not 
so much an insinuation that the brother in question was in- 
sincere, as it was a charge by innuendo that all who ever pos- 
sessed the blessing, as Fisk, Fletcher, and such like, were hypo- 
crites. Nay, it was rather a blow aimed at the doctrine, at the 
Bible which teaches it, and at the Author of that blessed book." 

Diary: "Cincinnati, September 14, 1845. — Yesterday closed 
the Ohio Conference held here. Bishop Soule came, (the Lord 
be judge between him and me,) and the conference refused to 
sit under his presidency. I had to interpose with great firm- 
ness, or see my beloved Ohio Conference thrown into utter con- 
fusion. I believe the Lord helped me and an explosion was 
avoided. Little did I think such trials awaited me when 
eighteen months ago I lay sick on the borders of heaven. O 
Lord, if I have done less or more or otherwise in this trying 
scene of labor than wa3 right, forgive me for Christ's sake ! 
And forgive him or them who mistakenly or maliciously have 
troubled our Zion here ! I fly to thee for refuge. Amen ! ■ 

Rev. Cyrus Brooks, author of the accompanying sketch, was 
a very reputable member of the Ohio Conference. The scene 
he describes transpired onjy the next year after Bishop H.'s 
election to the superintendency. The time ; the place, where 
he had so long resided ; the conference, not only his peers, but 
his fathers in the ministry, and a class of men of more power, 
intellectually and morally, could not be found in the Church : 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 213 



all these considerations weighed heavily on his sensitive, self- 
diffident spirit. And when to all was added the presence of 
Bishop Soule, whom he had been used to love and venerate, in 
circumstances so peculiar and embarrassing, certainly only 
divine power could sustain and guide the trembling incumbent 
through. 

It had been rumored the day before that Bishop Soule in- 
tended to present himself in the conference at its opening, and 
Judge M'Lean and Rev. W. H. Raper (one of the older class, 
and one of the most influential members of the conference, and 
known also as a personal friend of Bishop Soule) had called on 
him, and urged that he had better not attend the conference, 
using every possible dissuasive, but he remained inflexible. 

After the scene was over several of the members of the con- 
ference hastened to Bishop H.'s lodgings, and with grateful 
tears rehearsed to his anxious wife the incidents of the morning. 

" In the fall of 1845 the Ohio Conference was held in the old . 
Ninth-street Church, Cincinnati, Bishop Hamline presiding. 
This was the first time he presided in this conference, which 
was a large and influential body, containing many aged and 
able men. So far as his ministerial life was concerned he had 
been reared in this conference, and his modesty had always led 
him to take a very humble place among his brethren, and now 
that he was called to go up higher and sit as chief among 
those brethren, he evidently felt a good deal of embarrass- 
ment. 

" But this was by no means the most serious cause of embar- 
rassment. Two or three prominent members of the conference 
were in full sympathy with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
South, which had just come into being. These men were 
exceedingly bitter in their feelings, and would hesitate at 
nothing that promised capital for that pro-slavery organization. 
They were headed by Bishop Soule, who had acted a conspicu- 
ous part in the formation of that Church, and, so far as acts 
could do it, had fully identified himself with it. 

" He had not, however, formally withdrawn from the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, but still claimed to be a bishop of that 
Church, in full possession of episcopal functions, and it was 



214 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



evidently his intention, by the aid of his sympathizers, either 
to secure a recognition of his claims, or to embarrass as much 
as possible the proceedings of the conference. He accordingly 
placed himself in such an attitude as seemed to render it neces- 
sary for Bishop Hamline to decide that he was no longer a 
bishop, and refuse to fraternize with him as such, or else, in the 
ordinary exercise of episcopal courtesy, inyite him to preside 
in the conference. The case was without precedent. Bishop 
Hamline had but recently been placed in the episcopal office, 
while Bishop Soule was venerable in years, and a veteran in 
the episcopacy. 

" We all saw and felt the delicacy of Bishop Hamline's posi- 
tion. The general sentiment, however, seemed to be that it 
was his duty to protect the conference, so far at least as to give 
a fair opportunity for the discussion of the subject with an 
acknowledged bishop in the chair. "What were Bishop Ham- 
line's views, or what course he intended to pursue, the confer- 
ence generally had no means of knowing. Indeed it is not yet 
known to the writer whether he did or did not agree with the 
conference in the views afterward expressed. If he did, he 
evidently thought the responsibility of raising the question of 
Bishop Soule's status was with the conference rather than 
himself. If he did not, then he pursued in the beginning the 
only course he could consistently pursue, and afterward very 
properly deferred to the judgment of the conference. In either 
case, though there may be sufficient grounds for a difference 
of opinion, there certainly can be none for censure. 

" Some of the older brethren ascertained that Bishop Soule 
would be invited to preside in the conference, and determined 
on the course they would take. The conference assembled 
next morning, and was opened in the usual form. Bishop 
Soule was in the chair. Bishop Hamline had placed him 
there, not as a temporary substitute, but as a colleague — 
as a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and no 
business could be done without tacitly recognizing him as 
such; but the conference had no power to remove him. 
If resolutions should be passed declaring him no longer 
one of our bishops, and requiring him to vacate the chair, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 215 



he would do as he pleased about regarding them. In- 
deed it was hardly to be expected that he would entertain 
resolutions looking to his own deposition, and even if he 
should, they could not be acted upon by the conference without 
seeming to acknowledge him as its legitimate president during 
their pendency. If Bishop Hamline's position had been one of 
great embarrassment before, the position of the conference 
seemed to be one of hopeless embarrassment now. 

" Nevertheless the venerable Jacob Young was promptly on 
his feet, and offered a paper setting forth the fact of Bishop 
So.ule's virtual withdrawal, and declaring his consequent want 
of jurisdiction in a conference of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. This paper Bishop Soule refused to entertain, and 
proceeded to bring before the conference some other business — 
a communication from the Book Agents at New York perhaps. 
This communication the conference refused to receive at his 
hands, or to transact any regular business whatever under his 
presidency. 

" The bishop and the conference were fairly at issue, and 
neither manifested the least disposition to recede. It was a 
dead lock. Every one looked anxiously upon his neighbor, 
and none knew what to do, or what would be the end of these 
things. Bishop Hamline was censured with great severity, but 
this did not help matters. The excitement was high, and 
every moment increasing, and something must be done, and 
done quickly. Bishop Soule had evidently decided on his 
course, and the conference must decide upon its course. 

" The general impression seemed to be that the only course 
left us was for the members to retire in a body, and leave the 
president without a conference ; but this measure was revolu- 
tionary, and might endanger some of our most vital interests ; 
and besides, as the Discipline says nothing as to the number or 
proportion of a conference which shall constitute a quorum, it 
might happen that, instead of dissolving the conference, we 
should leave Sehon and Latta and Burke and Maley, and per- 
haps one or two others of like spirit, to constitute the legal Ohio 
Conference, with Bishop Soule at its head. Some of the more 
considerate would have hesitated long before taking this step. 



216 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



" Bishop Soule at length yielded or seemed to yield so far as 
to relinquish the chair for a time to the Be v. James Quinn ; 
but he was utterly powerless to control the storm, and occupied 
his seat with evident uneasiness. It was very soon obvious 
that this expedient would avail nothing. None but one whose 
episcopal powers were unquestioned could accomplish anything 
now, nor could the crisis be longer delayed. Christian prin- 
ciple restrained all tendency to violence, yet it cannot be denied 
that the appearance of the conference was disorderly, almost 
tumultuous. 

" As already stated, the venerable James Quinn was an impo- 
tent and uneasy occupant of the presidential chair. Bishop 
Soule was sitting at his left, and a little in his rear. Bishop 
Hamline was still further away, and at his right, I happened 
to be sitting near the president, and almost immediately in 
front of him, where I could see every movement and catch 
every word. A large portion of the conference had risen to 
their feet, and some members I think had left the house. The 
critical moment had arrived, and it seemed that the next 
instant must bring hopeless confusion. 

" Just at that instant Bishop Hamline stepped upon the plat- 
form. I can never forget his appearance. Twenty years have 
not dimmed the recollection of it in the least. It was full of 
animation, yet calm, commanding, majestic. No human move- 
ment ever so impressed me with the idea of irresistible power. 
It was power, too, wielded with consummate skill, and for a 
most beneficent end. I have seen him in some of his happiest 
moments, in some of the loftiest flights of his sublime elo- 
quence, but I never saw him appear to so good advantage as 
then. He seemed to me almost more than man. 

" As he came forward he said that there were times when it 
became necessary to waive all considerations of mere courtesy 
and exercise the authority with which one was intrusted. 
Such a time had come, and it was clearly his duty now to 
interpose. As he said this he waved his hand to the temporary 
chairman at Ms left, who instantly obeyed the signal and gave 
place. Bishop Hamline took his scat, order was immediately 
restored, and business resumed its usual course. A few minutes 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 217 



afterward a stranger entering the house would not have sus- 
pected that anything unusual had occurred in the conference. 
So sudden and so complete was the restoration of order and 
confidence, that one could hardly help thinking of the time 
when the Master said to the tumultuous waves of Gennesaret, 
' Peace, be still,' and there was a great calm. 

" It was not long until the lofty form of Bishop Soule was 
seen moving toward the door, with his portfolio under his arm 
and his hat in his hand. He disappeared, and was seen among 
us no more." 

The following Sabbath at the ordination services Bishop 
Soule was again present. He knew that Bishop H. could not 
in any event invite him to assist in the services. The previous 
scene in the conference had proved that no member there 
would receive imposition of hands from him ; but there he sat 
like an incubus on the heart of his brother. Bishop H. said 
with tears, " I could see no motive unless to involve me in 
blame among the few present who might sympathize with him, 
and provoke sympathy from others." 

From his diary September 24 : 

"North Indiana Conference sat in Lafayette, Ind. This is 
one of the most interesting annual conferences I have yet 
visited. Here I find very holy men. Nearly all our business 
was done on Saturday noon. Two days and a half would have 
finished it but for ordinations. Read out the appointments on 
Monday morning, and rode to Crawfordsville and spent Sab- 
bath, October 5, in Indianapolis, and reached this place to 
attend the Indiana Conference with Bishop Morris. This is the 
first annual conference I have been permitted to attend through- 
out its session with another bishop since my election to office, 
and from my small experience I expected to find myself in many 
mistakes. But I am surprised to find how few and unimportant 
I have committed. I believe it is because God has helped me." 

" Lafayette, Wednesday evening, 5 o'clock. 
"To Mrs. H., — We have had a good day. Conference has 
begun in a right spirit. We got well forward in business, and 
have stationed forty ministers this P. M., only sixty remaining. 

10 



218 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN'S. 



I think we shall close on Tuesday morning, and ride to Craw- 
fordsville on Tuesday; spend Wednesday at Greencastle, and 
reach Indianapolis on Thursday or Friday at furthest. My 
health is perfect. I trust Providence will preserve you. Were 
it not for my business, which presses heavily on me, I should 
greatly wish you here. I think I feel your prayers. Tell the 
sisters, if they ever wish to do good, to cry unto God for a 
revival at conference. O may he visit us I I have felt peculiar 
solemnity in the conference room and stationing room. The 
Lord ajDpeared, as soon as conference commenced, to my heart 
in refreshing forms. Thanks to his name ! Your letter reached 
me this morning. Thank you for it. I will write on Friday 
and Monday if opportunity serves ; on Tuesday if we do not 
start. 

"I think there is an improvement in the districts north. 
Fort Wayne District is said to be rising in piety. I must close, 
as I am weary. Take care of your health, and may the Lord 
bless you more and more. I have great peace this evening. O 
this precious faith, may it grow and grow! The Lord will 
increase it more and more. I feel strong in God ; have been 
enabled to exhort the brethren with some boldness and com- 
fort several times to-day. Brother Elliott seems to be more 
and more pious. He prayed with power this morning in con- 
ference for mature grace as I never heard him." 

"Lafayette, Ind., September 28. 
" To Mrs. H., — I have just returned from church. We had a 
love-feast this morning, where there were more witnesses of per- 
fect love among the ministers than I ever remember to have seen 
at a conference. Brothers Daniel, Beswick, Marsee and others 
testified most clearly, and I gave a fuller testimony than ever 
before ; and after an hour called the ministers to the altar, who 
came in scores and filled it two or three ranks deep. We had 
three prayers, and there on my knees I exhorted them, amid 
sighs and groans all around the altar, to consecrate themselves. 
It was a glorious morning. I tried with a burning heart to 
preach ' purity of heart,' and applied the subject as never before 
to ministers. O I am blessed, and I think that a work is going on 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SECOND YEAR. 219 



here ! Though there is a letter in the office to go out to-morrow, 
I write another, and will add this evening. Keep praying ; the 
Lord will work. This conference is the best, on the whole, I 
have ever attended. Your prayers in Indianapolis are answered 
in L. 

P. M. — I do not know that the meeting this P. M. was quite 
equal to what I expected. Brother Wiley, of the Indiana Con- 
ference, preached, but did not dwell on, though he mentioned, 
perfect love. But the Lord is working in the hearts of his 
ministers, and I believe will work. I am sorry that Dr. Elliott 
preaches this evening on Romanism, and this may divert some 
minds ; but I trust only for a time. Continue to plead for us. 

" My health never was better since the day of my birth than 
it has been every hour since I left you. I have not been weary 
but once. k Labor is rest,' and toil (pain I have not) ' is sweet, 
if thou, my God, art here ! ' And he is here. I feel the glowing 
flame. O may I feel it more and more, and you also ! Trust 
in God — ' have faith in God.' 

" Brother Dickinson, of Louisville, is here, a charming man I 
Moved to Indianapolis, to get where he might ' breathe a free 
atmosphere.' 

"I commit you to God and the word of his grace, who is 
able to build you up and grant you [us] an inheritance among 
1 all them that are sanctified.' " 

" Gallipolis, Ohio, November 16 : In consequence of the death 
of Brother Ferree, presiding elder of this district, I have been in 
this neighborhood some three weeks attending quarterly meet- 
ings, and doing what I could. This is a barren place at pres- 
ent, but when God shall build up Zion he will appear in his 
glory. Come, Lord Jesus ! " 



220 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



CHAPTER XL 

episcopal labor: third tear. 

At the commencement of 1846 Bishop Hamline was engaged 
in a series of revival services in Lawrenceburgh, Indiana. 
"Writing to his fiiends in New York, he says : 

" This is a day of His power here. The Methodist Church 
has been noted in this place for its wealth, its backslidings, its 
internal strifes, and other inconsistencies. But, blessed be God ! 
a change has come over them. We came here on New Year's 
to spend two or three days, and have been with them twenty- 
two days. More than seventy have joined the Church. But 
the greatest blessing is, more than a hundred church members 
have been converted — truly converted ; for I believe there was 
not a sinner in town more removed from justification than many 
of them were. Your little ' Way of Holiness ' is leading some 
of them into liberty. 

" I am much blessed in my own soul. This day I feel that I 
am near to the Saviour, dwelling in him, laboring in his 
strength, and glorying in his cross. ' All is well ! ' Mrs. H. 
has written all I could say about a journey East. I am His 
who sent me, and wait his will. If our beloved sister die before 
we see her, it is so short a journey to glory that I could scarcely 
feel like saying farewell. O how near faith brings eternity ! 
Truly it is the subsistence of things hoped for. Write a line at 
a time. ' The best of all is, God is with us.' O remember that ! " 

" Cincinnati, February 27, 1846. — I have spent the last three 
months thus: In Athens with my dear friends, and Brother - 
Jacob Young, one week; four weeks in Lawrenceburgh in a 
glorious revival, preaching twenty-two sermons with other 
labor ; one week at Aurora, and on Cheviot circuit ; some 
days in Portsmouth, Ohio, and several in this city and vicinity, 
preaching the word and writing. I have had some blessed 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: THIRD YEAR. 



221 



seasons. Glorious revivals are breaking out in almost every 
part of the Northwest. Eleven hundred accessions to the 
Church are reported in one week by the Western Christian 
Advocate. In this city, where 'grievous wolves' have ' entered 
in, not sparing the flock,' the Lord is doing wonders. Wesley 
Chapel is all alive under the ministry of Rev. J. M. Trimble, 
and many are getting the blessing of perfect love. Glory be to 
God!" 

To a minister who had been molested in his work in one of 
the border conferences, he writes : 

" CnrcnsTN-ATi, February 20, 1846. 

"From all I can learn, I think it probable that the next 
General Conference will form an annual conference of North- 
western Virginia. I did not suppose any preachers would be 
sent from the South into the Ohio Conference after the stations 
for the year were made out in the Ohio and the bordering con- 
ferences. I consider it a violation of the plan if any such are 
sent into Kanawha District. And if that be the case, I wish 
all the Ohio preachers to pursue their work, preaching to all 
who will hear them, and in the sj)irit of their Master saving all 
the souls they can. 

" There were no border appointments in the Ohio Conference 
that declined receiving a preacher from their own conference at 
its last session, and none such applied by a majority vote for 
preachers from Kentucky or any other conference south. Our 
preachers were sent there for the year, and we desire them to 
pursue their work, not disputing with any, but with much 
prayer and mighty faith doing and suffering, remembering it is 
enough if the disciple be as his Master. 

" You will keep the charge of Guyandotte circuit through 
the year, as long as people will receive your ministrations, 
whoever may come from the South with instructions to super- 
sede you. If all withdraw from the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, you may consider yourself released, and return to 
Ohio. The districts are under our jurisdiction for the year, 
and we cannot surrender the field in an irregular manner. 
When the year runs out the question may remain whether the 



222 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Plan requires us to yield up the territory which has once acqui- 
escingly adhered to the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

" The resolutions of your quarterly meeting conference seem 
decided, and will encourage you in your duty. We will not 
forget to remember you, and plead for God's aid to enable you 
to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Live near the 
throne. Say but little about the difficulty, but talk much of 
Jesus. Get all the people to pray without ceasing. Speak evil 
of none on the other side. Like Micah the prophet, plead with 
God till you can say, 4 1 am full of power by the Spirit of the 
Lord.' Then you shall go forth like a mighty man. The Lord 
bless you, my dear brother, and ' teach your hands to war and 
your fingers to fight,' so that ' a bow of steel shall be broken 
by your hands.' " 

" Cincinnati, May 9. — This day closes the forty-ninth year 
of my life. What a waste of years is behind me. I am an old 
man, but have done little for my Lord. I often wish to die : 
holy joys so swell my bosom that I long, as Paul did, to depart 
and be with Christ. But I chide the longing. In view of my 
wasted years I should long and struggle to live and labor and 
suffer for Christ. O for ten or fifteen years, if that might be, 
of hard labor for God and his well-beloved Son. I have been 
absent near nine weeks in Xenia, Loudon, Columbus, Reynolds- 
burgh, Lura, Hebron, Jackson, Rushville, Zanesville, Brown- 
ville, New Carlisle, Mt. Yernon, Utica, Newark, Charleston, 
Sharonville, and Lockland. Preached some thirty-five times 
in those places. Often filled with holy joy. Glory be to God ! 

"May 11. — The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is in 
session at Petersburgh. Bishops Soule and Andrew are their 
presidents. Each has, in leaving the Methodist Episcopal 
Church, shot a Parthian arrow; the one complaining of the 
loose views of the Methodist Episcopal Church on the subject 
of episcopal authority ; the other characterizing the Northerners 
as wildly and waywardly fanatic. All these things make not 
for peace. Denunciation is too common in these days. Things 
that I knew not are laid to my charge. Unholy accusations 
from unholy lips (alas ! that I must say in some instances lying 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: THIRD YEAR. 223 



lips, for that is proven) might vex me were it not that the Lord 
turns the edge of their sword, and their weapons hurt me not. 
I desire to 'bless them that curse' me. I do bless them in the 
name of the Lord. 

"Left Cincinnati, May 27, for the Pittsburgh Conference. 
Visited Mr. D., sick. Took dinner at Dr. C. Elliott's, and 
stayed at night with Benjamin Stewart, at Madison. The set- 
tlement of my business has diverted me, but God will help me 
to recollection. Preached at night to about one hundred per- 
sons, suddenly collected in the small neat Madison Chapel." 

" Cincinnati, May 9, 1846. 

" To Eev. J. Perkins, — The purpose I mentioned to write 
to you has never been forgotten ; but the great agitation kept 
up on Church difficulties has added much to the busy engage- 
ments which were inevitably connected with my relation to the 
Church, and I have deferred my letter till now. 

" I trust you are finding great spoil for your soul and for your 
Saviour in \our private devotions and public ministrations. 
There seems to me nothing more to be desired for us than to 
get by faith, and communicate by prayer and exhortation, the 
good things of Christ's kingdom. Paul so hungered after such 
riches, that he would fain have died to seize them, for he says 
'having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far 
better.' And he was content to bestow no other charity but 
salvation, quieting himself in his lack of silver and gold by 
wishing he were accursed (as was Christ) ' for his kinsmen ac- 
cording to the liesh.' What should any minister of Jesus want 
but to be holy and diffuse holiness. These two will make him 
like Christ, and anything almost besides will make him unlike 
Christ. It is Christ's great office and work, by his death and 
reign, and by sending with his Father the Holy Spirit to purify 
to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle. And 
how wonderful that he should condescend to make poor sinful 
worms as we are, ourselves first partakers of the great salvation, 
and then instruments of communicating it to others." 

" Sabbath, May 31. — At Hillsborough my first visit to stay 
any. On Tuesday night stayed at Allentown. A dying woman, 



224 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



just by the tavern, visited ; talked and prayed with her. In great 
distress ; sometimes ' out of her mind ;' seemed more calm while 
I talked and prayed. Have some hope that she found Christ. 
She died in the night. 

"Saturday, 6. — Reached Brother W.'s quarterly meeting, two 
miles from Hillsborough. Preached at eleven o'clock. 

" "Wheeling, June 15, 1846. 

" To Mrs. P., — Having started on our way to the conferences, 
I write to solicit your special supplications on my labors this 
year. You know I have said that you ' prayed me into this 
work and now must pray me through.' Though I might have 
chosen graver language, I deem this just. So unexpected an 
allotment must have come, I deem, by special measures. For 
two years, I am constrained to acknowledge, God has helped 
me. If prayer be continued for me, I still have hope. I am 
now on my way to the Pittsburgh Conference as a visitor, 
(Bishop Morris presiding,) and on the 9th or 10th of July start 
for Galena, 111., a long journey to the Rock River Conference. 
My conferences are as follows : At Galena, August 12 ; Iowa Con- 
ference, (at Bloomington, Iowa,) September 2 ; Illinois Confer- 
ence, at Paris, HI., Sept. 23 ; and Indiana Conference, (at Con- 
nersviHe, Ind.,) October 7. At these times plead with God for us. 

" Deep impressions were made at the conferences last year on 
the subject of perfect love. As one minister after another has 
written to me, and announced ' liberty' from sin, and stated that 
he left conference resolved never to rest without the blessing. 
1 have sunk in deep humility before God. O may he use us 
still as his instruments ! 

" I say us, for I deem Mrs. H.'s labors are, if anything, more 
fully blest than my own. We enjoy the presence and holy 
smile of the all-seeing God. My soul trembles often under the 
weight of his love. He draws me by the sweet violence of 
faith and love after and near him. I feel like giving him 
glory. 

" Ohio Riveb, near Gallipolis, July 17, 1846. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — May the God of Israel bless you, and 
restoring and preserving your health (if it be his holy pleasure) 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: THIRD YEAR. 



225 



enable you to do more, much more than ever for Christ and his 
cause. Amen ! " 

"I write on this jarring boat to solicit your special prayers 
in our behalf. We have just spent three weeks in traveling 
through the country toward Uniontown, Pa., to attend Bishop 
Morris's conference. We make all this journey — Providence 
permitting, in a private carriage, through regions proverbially 
sickly — over the corduroy bridges of Indiana, and through 
swales, forests, and prairies of Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, 
for the purpose of visiting the societies and preaching the 
gospel of the kingdom. Do follow us with your earnest prayers, 
and especially at the conferences let us not be forgotten. 

" The work of holiness is progressing in the West. A large 
number of the ministers have professed the blessing the last 
winter. On one circuit alone 'one hundred members have 
obtained the blessing. The conferences last year were seasons 
of refreshing to my own soul, and it seems, by God's grace, to 
many of the brethren. A leading brother in North Indiana, 
somewhat skeptical, of great influence, especially in the higher 
circles, obtained the blessing at New Years, and preached on 
the subject with great power. Nine of his station obtained 
the blessing in a few days. He writes that at conference he 
resolved to rest no more till he had tested the doctrine by a 
thorough effort to seek the blessing. On our present journey 
we met with a sister whose husband (a member of the North 
Indiana Conference) experienced the blessing at conference. 
Of this we had not before heard. Thanks be to God if our con- 
ferences, so often dreaded by the preachers as seasons of back- 
sliding, can be attended by such results ! 

" Mrs. H. is as well as usual at this season of the year. I have 
urged her to spend the summer in New York ; but she will go 
with me. It will try her strength to the utmost. Yet in truth 
I need her. I find her conversation with the preachers often 
does more good than all my exhortations in the conference. 
A remarkable power also attends her prayers. Under them 
souls have been directly and powerfully sanctified. Pray 
earnestly for her also, and that Satan may not hinder us, for 
there are many adversaries." 

10* 



226 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



In reply to a letter of inquiry from a minister on the witness 

of holiness, he says : 

" Cincinnati, October 23, 1846. 

" To Rev. S. T. Gillett, — Since your welcome letter reached 
me (of the 20th of July) I have been, until now, so constantly 
under the pressure of conference duties as to forbid all but 
business correspondence. I gladly embrace a short respite from 
labor to write to yourself and several other friends whose letters 
have necessarily been unanswered. 

" I feel indescribable satisfaction in the state of things which 
I discover to exist in some parts of our work. In the Ohio 
Annual Conference there is a marked and gratifying change for 
the better in regard to experimental and practical godliness. 
The conference is, I know not but fifty per cent, or more, above 
what it has been for the last fourteen years in these particulars. 
In this city there is at Wesley Chapel, Ninth-street, Ebenezer, 
Morris Chapel, and Fulton a very great and glorious change. 
All this improvement seems to me connected as a result with 
preaching 'perfect love.' For six years this theme has been 
dwelt upon by the members of this conference, and one after 
another has stepped into the great light and liberty and 
strength of that state, until, in some districts, probably one 
third or more of the preachers enjoy the blessing. The state of 
mind mentioned in your letter, ' doubts, not as to the reality, 
but as to the extent of the work,' does not seem to me discourag- 
ing, for one reason, namely, that a work of grace may progress 
rapidly in our hearts without our knowing the present extent 
of that work. The Israelites needed not to know how near they 
were to Canaan, in order to make their marches as regularly 
and as rapidly as the pillar of cloud and of fire should admonish 
them. It was necessary, however, that when these guiding 
signs moved they should always continue moving after them ; 
and that if in any other way (as by a command delivered to 
Moses or Joshua) God said unto them, ' Go forward,' they 
should not hesitate to advance, even if Jordan were in the way 
and the Anakim threatened them. The command is to us, 
' believe.' The promise is we ' shall be saved.' The sea or the 
Jordan may interpose, but let us not hesitate to proceed. ' The 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: THIRD YEAR. 227 



sons of giants' may be waiting to devour us, but let us go 
forward. Heaven forbid that our doubts and fears should turn 
us back some years into a wilderness. 

" It seems to me your experience of entire purity is perfectly 
clem. I have not known any case that seems more satisfactory. 
What a treasure of grace is committed to Christ's servant who 
has been permitted to feel that he was placed in the ' bosom of 
God ! ' What a treasure is that faith (of ' the operation of 
God') which carries the soul into such nearness to and union 
with the Father and the Son ! 

"I have thought that we lose much in making mere intel- 
lectual efforts to Tcnow our religious states. The time spent in 
studying that point seems to me in my own case worse than 
lost. Indeed, I never attempt it but I get a fall. 1 The things 
of God' (in us) knoweth no man, 'but the Spirit of God' 
(knows them.) If the time spent in searching were spent in 
prayer to God to teach us what he has wrought in us, would it 
not be more effectual ? This Spirit can by one moment's wit- 
nessing do more to teach us our religious state than our own 
unaided intellectual labors can accomplish in an indefinite 
period. 

" But again ; may we not err in praying even for this knowl- 
edge of our state more than is a just proportion ? To go on is 
our great duty. And whether we have now less or more of 
grace, motion, progress, is our great duty. I suppose that the 
knowledge of our progress, if it be rapid, may encourage us ; 
yet there may be almost equal, if not greater, danger that it will 
lead us to pride, or to presumption. And maybe we are often 
uninformed of our state, either because its lowness would lead us 
into despair, or its heights into unsafe elations of feeling or of 
hope. I believe where the soul maintains the attitude of press- 
ing forward all will be well. God will guide if we will but 
spread the sail ; and pleading and waiting for the breezes of the 
Spirit, in the mean time yield the world, creatures, self, and all 
up to his power. 

" You say you 4 feel very anxious to be clear in the profession 
of this grace.' Feeling thus, should we not keep to the profess- 
sion that we may be clear in it ? Every failure to confess at 



228 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



the proper time and place will doubtless darken the mind 
exceedingly and becloud the evidence." 

Extract of letter to Rev. J. Young, October 20 : 
" We start away in two or three w r eeks, to be gone for months. 
When I shall see you I know not. But, as you say, if not 
before, I trust in heaven. I am striving for that world. Some- 
times the wings of my soul are heavy and I fear. But I can go 
to Jesus. Should I not be thankful for such a privilege ? . . . 
The Lord bless you abundantly and sanctify you to himself, 
and bring us all to the pure and lasting fellowships above 
through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

"Haeeisbubgh, November 27, 1846. 

" To Rev. Z. H. Costox, — As I could not have the pleasure, 
in the order of Providence, of seeing you in Pittsburgh but a 
few minutes, I write a line that I may enjoy partially the satis- 
faction which your society would have afforded me. I needed 
your counsel while in the city on two or three points, but could 
not when I desired get to see you, and so, committing my way 
unto the Lord, went forward in the best way I could. 

" I had brought fresh to my mind the visit you paid to TTells- 
burgh in 1830, (I think it was,) when you were in health, and 
had the great comfort of going in and out before God's people. 
I have often inquired, mentally, how you endure the depriva- 
tion to which you must now be subject. I have long believed 
that to suffer is more trying than to do the will of God. Do 
you find it so ? The ' Master ' has, in his inscrutable but un- 
erring wisdom, given you a long trial of the former. And it 
seems you have but a small hope of being permitted to return 
to the work which you had learned to love so ardently. So 
that as you look back on years of past disability, so you are 
compelled to look forward also to coming years of superannua- 
tion. Surely you have found it a trial, my dear brother, and 
will realize it to be a severe one still. I find it a cross to spend 
one Sabbath without preaching Christ ; yet you, who loved the 
work perhaps more than I was capable of loving it, have by the 
providence of God been deprived weeks and months (nay, years 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: THIRD YEAR. 229 



in some measure) of so great and blessed a privilege. Yet we 
do know that our heavenly Father can make his grace sufficient 
for us under all bereavements. With whatever ' thorn in the 
flesh ' he may permit Satan to ' buffet ' us, he has always such 
strengthening cordials for us under the chastisement as shall 
make that buffeting a most wholesome discipline for our souls 
in preparing us for our seats and crowns above. 

" I have often thought with myself, 4 What would I do if in 
the course of a wise and righteous Providence I were called to 
cease from my labors and spend a few years in a superannuated 
state ? ' And I have pretty much concluded as follows, namely : 
1. I would seek some mode of employing myself in Church 
services of some sort. 2. If I could preach once a Sabbath 
fifteen minutes I would do it. 3. If I could not preach at all, 
I would hear preaching six, seven, eight, or nine times a week, 
and attend several classes. 4. It seems to me that some five or 
six hours a day I would devote to devotional and theological 
reading and prayer, and study the Bible as diligently as though 
I had to preach four sermons a week to the same congregation, 
and strive hard to keep up the spirit of preaching though for- 
bidden its use. 5. I believe if I could possibly live without it, 
I would allow myself to engage in no business, except, if neces- 
sary, to make the usual arrangements for living day by day, as 
marketing, etc., such as belong to every family. If possessed of 
much property I would not have even the care of it, but employ 
an agent, and pay him liberally (as I now do) for renting my 
houses, collecting my rents, and keeping my business affairs all 
settled up, so that my only office will be examining his accounts 
and passing receipts. 6. To save all applications to myself, and 
compel all who have business with me to transact it through 
my agent. I would not live where my property lies, know- 
ing if I did I must inevitably get entangled with its affairs. 
7. If, coming to this superannuated state, my income will not 
support me in a city, I intend to go to a village ; and if it will 
not keep me in a village, I will go to the country, rent a decent 
cabin and garden, and live near some little church on $100 per 
year, talking of Jesus to my wife and neighbors, and reading 
the Bible, Hymn book, Bramwell, and Fletcher, and Carvosso, 



230 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



etc., and pleading with God to help me and mine and the 
Church on toward heaven. But maybe I shall never try it. 
Indeed, from some disorder prevailing in my chest, I am apt to 
think I shall die suddenly, without much interval between the 
pulpit and the grave. The will of the Lord be done ! 

"We were indebted to our excellent Sister Coston for an 
evening of Christian society and night's rest at your home, and 
nothing seemed wanting to complete the comfort but your own 
cheerful and cheering presence. The Lord be pleased to give 
us eternal communion with the saints in heaven ! Mrs. H. and 
myself left on Monday, reached here on Wednesday at nine 
o'clock A. M., and finding signs of a revival here, and a meeting 
in progress, and Brother Castle almost worn out and sick, I 
stay until next week, Mrs. H. having gone on to New York to 
see my son." 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 



231 



CHAPTER XII. 

episcopal labor: fourth tear. 

Bishop Hamline observes in regard to Iris election to the epis- 
copacy that " a translation in the chariot of Elijah could not 
have overtaken him more unexpectedly;' 1 and adds, "until 
called by my brethren (and, as I am firmly persuaded, by God's 
providence and Spirit) to the solemn duties of the superinten- 
dency, I did not deem my daily experience could be of sufficient 
moment as to render it important to record it ; but it may be 
useful or gratifying to some that it should be known how the 
Lord has led me in the secret journeyings of my soul along the 
trying yet blessed paths of my pilgrimage." 

This year we are furnished with a more minute diary of his 
rapid journeyings and short respites from labor. He enters 
upon the year engaged in labors on Staten Island. January 1, 
1847, we find the following entry : 

" Spent this day on Staten Island and in returning to New 
York. Last evening preached at Woodrow Church, previous 
evening in the center of the island, and on Tuesday evening at 
New Richmond. 

" On my way across the island visited ' Father Boehm,' 
many years the traveling companion of Bishop Asbury. He 
is now above seventy years of age, and is a patriarch in Israel. 
I hear that Bartine and one or two others in New Jersey 
Conference are his seniors. The Lord blesses him, leaning on 
his statT. 

w Sunday, 3. — Preached in the morning at Forsyth-street, for 
Brother Stratton, on 'Ephrairn joined to idols V Lord save ! 
Preached at three P. M. for Brother White at Eighteenth-street. 
A good time : ' Children of God by faith.' Night at Willett- 
street. Mercies of God attend me. Some trials, many bless- 
ings. 



232 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 

"New York, January 5. — At Dr. P.'s. I enjoy precious 
privileges in the society of this holy family. Intimate ac- 
quaintance changes approval into admiration of God's grace in 
them. I know two persons at least who live up to their pro- 
fession. Jesus can make his disciples wonderfully like himself. 
In these I find a proof. Grace has been here with her plummet 
and line. The stones are all shaped and polished ready for the 
temple. They will be used by the great Builder as his wisdom 
pleases. The polisher knows where. My soul is helped. 

" 1 And if our fellowship below 

In Jesus be so sweet, 
What heights of rapture shall we know 

"When round his throne we meet.' 

" Thursday, 7. — I have met at Dr. P.'s and conversed 
with two brethren whom I greatly desired to see, President 
Mahan and Professor Upham. They seem to me to be ex- 
ceedingly devoted Christians. I deem them both sanctified 
men, and pioneers in spreading holiness in the Congregational 
Church. 

" Saturday, 9. — Spent this week in New York. Sat for a 
portrait at the solicitation of Dr. P. If we get to heaven it 
seems a waste to be pictured on earth. Shall we not live 
forever ? How will such a sinner as I have been look, washed 
and glorified in heaven ! 

" Sunday, 10. — Spent this day in Elizabethtown. Visited 
Brothers Rogers and Fauks. Had a comfortable season 
with the people. A new neat chapel is finished, but heavily 
in debt. 

" Monday, 11.— Spent this day and three following days in 
Newark with Dr. D. P. Kidder. An amiable family. Not well. 
This is a beautiful place. 

" Wednesday, 13. — Spent the time within. Wrote all day. 

" In family prayer I wish to leave my dictionary, whether 
English, Greek, or Hebrew, out of sight, and also my geography, 
natural history, metaphysics, and all else but God. Just then 
I would be as Moses was in the cleft of the rock, able to think 
of nothing but the overwhelming presence and glory of God. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 233 



"Rahway, Sunday, 17.— Preached in the morning, but sick 
this evening. Methodism trembles in this region. Subject of 
perfect love is strange to the ears of many. Spiritual death 
prevails of course. Methodist preachers shall . answer for it at 
the bar of God. He who stands up at the altar and repeats 
the usual answers to the solemn questions in the conference 
examination, and then makes light of the doctrine of perfect 
love, is fit for almost anything but the pulpit. According to 
Mr. Wesley he is either a dishonest man, or he has lost his 
memory. 

"New York, Thursday, — This day assisted in dedicating 
the new church at Tompkins Square. The Lord gave me a 
good season ; was present in his word, and his love burned in 
my soul. Blessed be his name for ever and ever. Amen ! 

" Saturday, 23. — Went to New Brunswick. Put up with 
Brother B., a good man, and an extensive shipper. He loves 
religion, and few men, they say, of his means and business, live 
so much like a Christian. C, of Michigan Conference, the 
pastor. Preached twice. A great dearth prevails here. 
Preacher is smooth, polished. He needs perfect love. The 
people need it. They are as near death as they well can be, 
yet live. In the language of the word, ' are ready to die.' " 

"New Brunswick, N. J., January 23, 1847. 
"To Rev. Edward D. Roe, — For several weeks I have 
been thinking of the circumstances of my acquaintance with 
you, its commencement, progress, and — close ? The strong hope 
of meeting you and living with ycu forever in company with a 
great number of redeemed souls whom I knew on earth, and an 
innumerable company whom I knew not, often fills me with 
unspeakable comfort. The thought of it in connection with 
individual Christian acquaintances is exceedingly pleasant. I 
have thought of it frequently of late in connection with 
Brother Roe. 

" The last time I spoke with you, unless I forget, was on the 
sidewalk in Cincinnati in October 1845. You were then in a 
superannuated relation, and somewhat dejected as I supposed, 
and on parting with you it seemed to me probable enough 



234 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



that our next meeting would be in heaven. My own health 
was peculiarly affected, and yours was evidently feeble. You 
are now, by the providence of God, restored to the delightful 
labors of the ministry, and I am in no worse health, perhaps 
somewhat better. God's ways are not as our thoughts, thanks 
to his name ! 

" I saw you seventeen years ago, a merchant. How rapidly 
time has run ! It seems scarcely so long since, in company with 
my now sainted wife, I rode from Washington, six miles, and you 
with us, on the 'little bay;' but it is seventeen years last or 
will be Dext September. What a large breach in one's life is 
seventeen years ! Well, my dear brother, we do not regret it, 
only that we have not been more diligent and lived nearer to 
Jesus. 

* But he forgives our follies past.' 

" I have been able to preach from three to five times a week 
this winter. My labors have been in New York and New 
Jersey, where I now am, and tending toward Pennsylvania, 
and so on toward the Baltimore Conference, which sits in four 
or five weeks. I have two petitions to present : 1. That you 
will give me your prayers, especially in regard to my labors 
this spring, that God will conduct me safely through embar- 
rassing scenes in connection with our border difficulties ; and, 
2. That, if it be not a disagreeable task, you will favor me with 
a few lines, friendly and affectionate, for Christ's sake, and let 
me hear a word about the grace of God toward you and in 
you, in your return to the pleasant work of preaching Christ 
and him crucified. 

" I am happy to say that Christ is precious to me, and that, 
through much tribulation, I hope to enter into the kingdom 
of heaven. 

"I pray God to bless you abundantly in all things, to 
preserve and increase your strength, and to bring us to his 
kingdom above, through Jesus Christ our Lord." 

" Tbenton, Wednesday, 27. — Reached here at twelve o'clock. 
Preached at night in a lovely chapel to a good congregation. 
A cold time. Went around the cross. This always chills the 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 235 



people. Put up here with Brother Whitaker. An excellent 
man and family. Preached at night in the new erected chapel, 
a young society of sixty or seventy. Brother Ayres is stationed 
here, and a young Brother Purley in the new charge. 

"Philadelphia, Friday, 29. — Reached the city at two o'clock, 
and put up with J. J. Boswell, Esq., a wealthy and worthy 
family, members of Union charge. This is indeed a beautiful 
city. A man for the world might desire it. I am for Christ. 

" Saturday, 30. — Spent the day pleasantly. Saw several 
preachers. Talented and pious brethren. O may the great 
Head of the Church bless them ! Have had a comfortable 
day. 

" Sunday, January 31. — Preached in the morning at Union ; 
had comfort and some freedom. At night tried in 'old St. 
George's.' A great crowd. I find if any ' running after ' comes 
upon me I am discouraged, so also if there is a great falling 
off. Agur's prayer about riches seems to meet my views in 
regard to a congregation : ' give me neither a crowd nor empty 
seats ;' but I should always leave this to God. I have comfort 
to-day, and feel that I am on my journey home. ' Home ! ' 
precious word ! 

" Wednesday, February 3. — Preached this evening at Union. 
A great storm, but good congregation for the evening. Tried 
to preach to Christians. Cold, cold, yet some warm praying 
hearts. O the Church ! Jesus, thou hast purchased ; save it. 

"Thursday, 4.— Had at Brother H.'s a pious evening. Mrs. 
Cookman there. What a monument of God's sanctifying grace ! 
She said, ' I should have died of grief before now, but for that 
perfect love which enabled me, and does enable me now, to say, 
" Thy will be done." ' 

" Friday, 5. — Preached this evening in Wharton-street Church. 
A good congregation. By mistake walked about three miles 
before preaching. Expounded, and rather a dull time. Lord, 
give me far holier and mightier labors in thy blessed cause ! 

"Saturday, 6. — I pant for God this day. Many precious 
friends call to see us. God is merciful to this family, (Mr. 
Boswell's.) His wife is panting after God, the living God. 
May she be filled with righteousness ! 



236 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Sunday, 7. — Preached at Trinity Church in the morning, 
and in Eighth-street Church at night. One of my happiest 
days. O how full has my unworthy soul been of God, 
the living God ! It is near unto heaven to spend such a 
morning in this way in God's house. O may there be fruit 
of my labor ! 

" Camden, N. J., Monday, 8. — Have started on a three weeks' 
tour. Lord go with me. Preached this evening to a crowded 
house. Tried to be faithful. Reproved cold and wandering 
professors. May the word take effect. Lord, save ! " 

" Tuesday, 9. —Great mercies to-day. In private and in com- 
muning with saints Christ was in me the hope -of glory. Truly 
could I say, ' The best of all is God is with us.' Not able to 
attend meeting at night, but filled unutterably full of glory 
and of God. Death looks sweet. I long to depart and be 
with Christ. 

" Burlington, Wednesday, 10. — Preached to-night in pain 
and under physical weakness. A large auditory. Small fruit. 
They are about to pull down a church here and build a 
new one. I think it might be better to let the old one stand, 
and build a new one in the south-east part of the town. The 
old house will hold nearly as many as the new one planned, 
and is a strong, solid chapel. It is not elegant, but Methodism 
can dispense with that. 

"Moust Holly, Thursday, 12. — Preached last night and 
to-night in this place. Weak breast ; rather cold. Some 
comfort. Many precious people here. Excellent society. Put 
up with the presiding elder, Brother Porter, a good man and 
faithful minister. Methodism has about as fair a representa- 
tion here as anywhere in these regions. A large, good 
church, and a pious membership, and several local preach- 
ers, who are usefuL I have had comfort here, but not an 
overflow. 

"Sunday, 14.— Preached twice. Used my strength freely. 
Baptists have a meeting and converts and baptisms — nine last 
Sabbath and twelve to-day. They have held their meetings 
three weeks, and we have given them the ground. Surely 
they will not complain if we begin now. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 237 



u Pemberton, Monday, 15. — A good day to my poor soul ; 
deep, precious peace. Prayer-meeting in the basement at six 
A. M. Sisters' prayer-meeting at two P. M. Mrs. H. attends, 
and speaking meeting at night, and all the church at the altar. 
Glory be to God for his goodness ! 

" Tuesday, 16. — Not so joyful a day as yesterday. Prayer- 
meeting at six A. M. Many out. Preaching at night ; large 
auditory ; yery serious. Our Baptist brethren push the battle. 
Lord bless them abundantly, and bless thy needy Methodist 
children also. 

" Wednesday, 17. — A precious prayer-meeting at six A. M., 
preaching at ten A. M., and a better season I have scarcely had 
or seen in my life. O glorious baptism of the Spirit ! Thou 
waterest thy heritage, O Lord ! This morning our bow abode 
in strength, for God himself was with us truly. 

" Thursday, 18. — Prayer-meeting at six o'clock A. M., preach- 
ing at nine. Much worn down. ' The flesh is weak.' Have 
had a good season, however. The Lord has verily been present 
with me here. O what seasons of refreshing ! Never shall I 
forget them. My chamber at Brother A.'s has been a bethel 
indeed. 

" May the Lord in mercy bless and save this people. Here 
are more aged Christians than I remember to have seen in one 
small town. Father Van Ness, an acquaintance of J. Wesley's, 
within two months of Wesley's age when he died. He loves 
the name and memory of that wonderful man. Bodine, fifty 
years a Methodist, and Mrs. Budd, seventy years a member — a 
grandmother in Israel. The inscription on their beautiful 
chapel is, 'Erected A. D. 1775, and rebuilt 1835. Lord bless 
this people, and may the glory never depart ! Amen ! 

" Newtown, Pa., Sunday, 21. — Came on Thursday from 
Pemberton to Mount Holly and put up with Brother James, 
whose godly wife so resembles her sanctifying Lord that it 
brings to mind the saying, ' For he who sanctifieth and they 
who are sanctified are all of one.' Friday came through Bur- 
lington and Trenton to this place to dedicate the new church, 
36 by 50. Dreadful weather to-day. Prayer-meeting in the 
morning, (best dedication,) preaching and prayer-meeting 



238 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



P. M. at old house,* dedication sermon at night in the new 
house. A good congregation for such a fearful storm. It was 
a blessed day for niy soul until night, when I was worn out ; 
spirits nagged, poor preaching, and felt ashamed to render to 
Christ so poor, poor a service. Fear I did not get the right 
subject, I rejoice I have 'an Advocate with the Father.' 
Jesus, forgive and save ! 

u Wednesday, 24.— Preached twice to-day with great comfort. 
God was in the midst of us. Young Brother Cookman 
preached at night. Small congregations. As the weather 
prevented collections for the church on Sabbath they were 
received to-day, and amounted to $275, leaving the new 
church about $150 in debt. This is a good day. 

" Thursday, 25. — A pleasant day. Brother Hand preached at 
night. Theme, 1 Christ and his government.' My soul rejoiced. 
A solemn season. The Lord is near this people. Weather has 
been rather unfavorable most of the time. 

"Doylestown, Pa., Friday, 26. — Rode fourteen miles to 
this place this P. M. Preached this night to about one hund- 
red souls. Methodism low as to numbers, but a good chapel 
and an attentive congregation. Put up with Judge Smith; 
not a member, but an afflicted, and, I judge, a serious family. 
Not a lively season in public. 

" Newtowk, Pa., Saturday, 27. — Rode from Doylestown this 
morning in a dreadful storm. One of my worst journeys on a 
small scale. We were in a one-horse sleigh, snow half gone, 
rain and wind in our faces. I worked hard to hold an um- 
brella braced against the storm, and we reached fourteen miles 
in three hours. 

" Sunday, 28. — Preached twice ; not warm in my affections. 
Not one of my best Sabbaths. Let me bless God for the past, 
and trust him for the future. 

" Philadelphia, March 1. — Came to the city and put up 
with my dear friends, the Boswells. A pleasant home. The 
Lord bless us here for Christ's sake. Absent three weeks; 
preached seventeen times. 

" Tuesday, 2. — Bishops Waugh. Morris, and Janes in town for 
the bishops' meeting, but Bishop Hedding not here. Spent 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 239 



much of the day with them. Not prayer enough. Seyen 
o'clock. Bishop Hedding has arrived ; very feeble. 

" Wednesday, 3. — Bishops' meeting in progress. Offered a 
resolution which will serve to make the line of separation a 
fixed, not a movable line, as our Southern brethren intend, 
and it was unanimously agreed to. It was agreed also that 
circuits have no privilege of voting. 

" Friday, 5. — Bishops closed their meeting. I offered two 
resolutions asserting that Kanawha District, Ohio Conference, 
and King George, Westmoreland, Lancaster, and Warrenton 
Circuits, Baltimore Conference, still belong to our work, and 
are to be supplied by us. Carried unanimously. It was also 
agreed, nem. con., that the plan of separation had been violated 
in Cincinnati, (Soule Chapel,) and on the Peninsula, (Philadel- 
phia Conference,) as well as in Kanawha and the above circuits. 
The subject of visiting Liberia to ordain missionaries was up. 
All against going. Got a resolution passed not to object. 
Lord, shall I go ? Teach me. 

"Baltimore, Sunday 7. — Preached in the morning at 
Light-street; a good time. P. M. went three quarters of a 
mile on foot to a German love-feast. Weary and sick. 
Preached at night at Charles-street. Splendid church; not 
much like the manger or the cross. 

" Monday, 8. — Dined at Colonel Berry's. Short visit. Sup- 
ped at F. Israel's, a rare family; harmless and heaven-bound. 
O that all of us Methodists could be like them or like Christ ! 
Missionary anniversary at night in Light-street. 

"Washington City, D. C, Tuesday, 9. — One fourth of a 
century since I was here. Baltimore Conference commences 
to-morrow. Lord, help me, and help thy ministers ! " 

" "Washington City, March 10, 1847. 
"To Mrs. H., — Opened the conference myself. Bishop 
Morris present. Read the fourth chapter of Second Corinth- 
ians, and sung a hymn. Prayer by Bishop Morris, Brother 
Gere, and Brother Guest. A good time. Addressed them 
five minutes on the importance of order, diligence, and devo- 
tion, the last above all. It was a pleasant session. 



240 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" We open at nine A. M., and adjourn at one P. M. Presid- 
ing elders meet at three P. M. Brethren are generally very 
kind. I feel thankful, and promise my heavenly Father 
more gratitude and fidelity. My best love to those you are 
with. Lord, bless ! " 

u March 11. — Conference progressed rapidly. Last year it 
sat seventeen or eighteen days, this year I hope it may adjourn 
in nine days. If the Lord will aid (and his servants seeking he 
will aid) we may close on Friday the 19th. 

" Saturday, 13. — Nearly half the business of conference is 
finished unless some unforeseen difficulties arise. Lord, help ! 
I feel firmly resolved to urge holiness of heart on Christ's 
members. I will die rather than give it up. God help me to 
be faithful ! 

" Sunday, 14. — Preached this morning to an overflowing 
congregation from ' pure in heart.' Ordained twenty traveling 
and six local brethren as deacons. Not a very good season 
in some respects. Too crowded and close; but thank God 
it was no worse. Many preachers were present, aiid I tried 
to discharge my duty by urging on all the doctrine of 
entire sanctification, and exhorting them to seek it. O 
that I had more of it in my own heart ! Yet the Lord 
has done great things for me indeed. Since March, 1842, I 
have enjoyed new states of grace, which I was till then a 
stranger to. It is on this ground alone that I am able to say, 
1 Cast down, but not destroyed.' I should have been destroyed 
root and branch but for the strength which God has given me. 
I have often, under the provocations connected with the dis- 
union of the Church, found that nothing could support me but 
grace, abundant grace. Men have in this matter laid to my 
charge things which I knew not, and these have been pub- 
lished in religious journals without the least shadow of 
authority, and when proven false have not been retracted, but 
were permitted to go to the world as solemn and well attested 
truth. I can by grace forgive and forget. And I pray God to 
save the agents of so unwarrantable a mischief. Two of these 
agents have, I doubt not, been actuated by a spirit of deep, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 241 



diabolical malice; but so much the more do I pray, 'Lord, 
forgive them ! ' 

"Washington, D. C, Saturday, 20. — Closed the Baltimore 
Conference. It is said to have been the shortest, most harmo- 
nious and devout session they have had for many years. I 
anticipated great difficulty. The Lord has opened our way. 
It has fatigued me beyond measure ; but thanks be to God ! 

"Sunday, 21. — Preached this morning with much effort 
(being exhausted) in M'Kendree Chapel. President Polk and 
family, and Secretary Buchanan, and other officers of the 
government present. Tried to deal faithfully with all ; but O 
for power in preaching ! I mourn." 

Of this conference a correspondent of the " Baltimore Clip- 
per " says : " Bishop Hamline remarked that on his pillow last 
night he thought long of an unfortunate ' brother.' He would 
not mention his name, but leave it with the secretary at the 
table, where the members of the conference could learn it. He 
felt satisfied that if they could render pecuniary assistance it 
would cause the poor brother's heart to swell with gratitude. 
(The bishop was understood to refer to a preacher who, by 
sickness, or other cause, involved himself in debt, which it was 
feared would injure his efficiency in his ministerial labor.) 
Two collectors were appointed, who reported $115 45 as the 
result of their labor. Sixty-five dollars in addition were subse- 
quently subscribed. A more gratifying exhibition of brotherly 
charity was perhaps never before witnessed. . . . 

" Bishop Hamline arose and delivered an eloquent, earnest, 
and affectionate address. He enforced the necessity of class- 
meetings as peculiarly belonging to the economy of the Meth- 
odist Church ; without them it would droop and die. Other 
denominations might get along without them, but the Meth- 
odists could not. Persons who neglected them or would not 
attend to them had no right to remain in the Church. The 
minister should insist on an enforcement of the Discipline in 
this particular, and all others. Better lop off the useless 
branches than suffer them to embarrass the tree and impede its 
growth. Many parents have relaxed moral discipline, per- 
mitting Sabbath-school instruction to do what they neglect; 

11 



242 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



therefore that cause should be near and dear to every minister. 
The missionary enterprise was another important institution of 
the Church, and was worthy of the most strenuous Christian 
efforts. 

" The bishop read several extracts from the writings of Mr. 
Wesley, urging on one of his preachers the necessity of Chris- 
tian perfection, entire holiness of heart, to be received by 
simple faith. He also referred to the London Conference held 
forty years ago, which insisted that no one should hold an oflice 
in the Church unless he believed in total depravity, the atone- 
ment of Christ and his divinity, justification by faith, entire 
holiness, as understood by the Methodists. These were the 
cardinal doctrines of the Church ; without them there would 
be nothing on which to stand. How important was it that the 
ministers of God should preach them ! He knew of a minister 
who joined the Methodists from another denomination because 
of the doctrine of sanctification as held by the Methodists. 
4 We have all the odium of being Methodists,' said the wife, 
' and we must be determined to get the good.' This minister 
before the expiration of two thirds of the year added three 
hundred persons to the Church ! and not five of them back- 
slid. A large number of the congregation experienced the 
blessing of holiness. The young converts were placed in the 
classes with them, and seeing their happiness and good exam- 
ple, were induced to reach forward to the mark of the prize of 
their high calling. With this view there is not time to fall 
back in sin. 

" In a few minutes, the bishop said, the appointments were to 
be read, and those assembled would separate, some never to 
meet again ; but he trusted that in heaven they would form an 
unbroken circle around the throne of God. They should bear 
the privations incident to the itinerancy, esteeming it a privi- 
lege, a glory, to be instruments of God for the conversion of 
souls. A few days or years and all their tribulations will be 
over, and when summoned to the judgment bar they could 
bring with them precious gems to be planted in the Redeemer's 
crown. Some may have more unattractive fields of labor than 
Others, but they should remember that the Son of man had not 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 



243 



■where to lay his head. The minister should not be like the 
hired nurse who feeds the child, but like the mother who 
nourishes the infant from the overflowing of her own bosom. 
Feeding the flock with the sweet ' bread of life.' 

" The auditors drank in every word, and the hearty ' amens ' 
of the preachers afforded an evidence of the delightfulness of 
the feast thus dispensed to them." 

" Monday, 22. — Reached Baltimore at eight o'clock A.M., and 
took lodgings with my worthy but unconverted friend, A. C. 
How nearly this gentleman and his excellent lady come to be 
religious, yet stay away from Christ. ' One thing thou lackest,' 
and that one is all, for time and eternity ! 

" Baltimore, 23. — Dined at Mr. Brundage's. Bishops Morris 
and Waugh, and others, present. A pious, pleasant visit. The 
Lord blessed me with a deep sense of his love. O religion, 
thou treasure! Help me, Lord, to live it, and die in its 
strength. 

" Wednesday, 24. — My dear Mrs. H. left me this morning for 
Tarrytown, N. Y., to see Leonidas, who is sick. I too am sick. 
Lord, go with her and stay with me, and bless the sick. How 
perfectly has the conference worn me out. 

" Thursday, 25. — Dined this day at Bishop Waugh's. Bishop 
Mort is and Sister M. in company. A select company. A young 
man [Shaw] came in to take his leave for Chicago. He goes 
with the intention of joining the Rock River Conference. May 
God go with him ; twelve hundred miles on horseback. We had 
two prayers, and committed him to Providence. 

" Baltimore, 27. — No letter to-night from Mrs. H., who was 
to have written how my sick son is. Shall I send to the office 
to-morrow ? If everybody knew how my son is, it might — no, it 
would not do. I am an uncompromising advocate of the Sab- 
bath. I will not send/' 

"March 27, 1847. 

" To Mrs. H., — I hesitated to write to-day, but as sickness is 
on hand I think it will be right to forward a letter, and relieve 
your anxiety on my account. I am much better, and have 
agreed to preach at High-street to-morrow morning; to Mr. 
Cole's ragged Sunday-school (as he calls it) at three o'clock ; 



244 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



and to our Sharp-street colored friends (four thousand mem- 
bers) on Monday night. 

"I am now nearly as well as ever ; not quite so strong. I 
dined at Dr. Noyes's to-day. Had an invitation to dine at 
Toy's with Bishop Morris and other company, but declined. 
I find I must give up these dinner parties. I lost much on 
Thursday. I think it is well that I stayed here. I trust it is 
not all in vain. I love to talk to Mr. C, and he loves to hear." 

" Sunday, 28. — O happy day ! Preached in the morning at 
High-street. A heavenly season. How sweet it is to preach in 
the strength of the Holy Ghost! Lord, thou wast with the 
people. P. M. at Washington Temperance Sabbath-school. It 
is a high day to my soul. Glory ! " 

"Bamtmoee, March 28, 1847. 

" To Mrs. H., — I went through the services of the day with 
much effort, as far as strength is concerned, but with more spir- 
itual comfort than I have experienced for a long time. Bishop 
"Waugh called for me at half past ten o'clock, and Mr. C. walked 
with me in his company to High-street. It is a neat, rather 
new church, and a most lovely congregation. I preached on 
1 The mercies of God.' My voice was weak, but my heart was 
strong. I noticed Brother Rogers and Brother Chapel in the 
congregation, with several others of different churches. It was 
a very feeling time among the people, and I doubt not that 
many of them, as Bishop Waugh mentioned in his prayer, are 
truly hungering and thirsting after holiness. I dined at Brother 
Lipscomb's, the preacher, and then went to Brother Rogers's and 
rested a while in his chamber ; he then went with me to the 
' Washington Temperance Hall,' where a large congregation of 
people were assembled. I preached forty minutes on the 'best 
robe ' with unusual liberty. I have now just supped, having 
lain down two hours before tea. Now set down to record the 
goodness of God. He has helped me to-day. ' O happy day ! ' 

" I have felt a strong spirit of prayer for you and L. to-day ; 
and especially about half past two P. M., I felt a great struggle 
in your behalf and his. For some time in Brother Rogers's 
chamber my exercises were rather remarkable, leading me 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 245 



almost to think that something special was happening at Tarry- 
town. May the Lord order all things in mercy — in great 
mercy. 

" Monday morning, nine o'clock. — I rested well. This morn- 
ing I feel considerable inconvenience from cold. It affects my 
breathing, and renders it difficult to converse. Preaching de- 
termined it a little toward a cough, such as I have had almost 
every spring. My appointment to-night may do more still to 
bring on a cough ; but I shall be very short, and it is Christ's 
work, so that I am fully satisfied. I shall spend much of the 
day in prayer. Feel well, except my cold, and much better in 
mind. I have been much afflicted at times since you left me, 
that I am so unmindful of God's goodness, and especially one 
act of his goodness, namely, in bestowing upon me yourself as 
a help to escape from sin and ruin, and in a wonderful manner 
reach heaven. ... If others have angels for ' ministering spirits/ 
so have I, with one addition, that God was pleased to give me 
also one to minister to me visibly and personally ; and when we 
reach the place of purity and repose, I expect to make the full 
acknowledgement of it before God and his holy angels. "What 
a history will it unfold ! " 

"March 29. — Preached at half past seven P. M. to the most 
crowded congregation I have ever had of colored people in 
Sharp-street. Had a very precious season, and ordained one 
colored brother as deacon. These people hear with all their 
hearts. Many of them, I doubt not, are on their way to heaven. 
What wars have they passed through to reach Christ. Wicked 
as their oppressors were, and without excuse, Providence is 
justified in their history." 

" Wilmington, Del., March 30, 1847. 
" To Mrs. H., — Bishop and Sister Morris came on with me, 
and we all put up together at Brother Prettyman's institute. It 
is a comfortable place, and if you were here it would be very 
much so ; but in little more than a week I hope to see you and 
L. I am now quite well, my cold being almost gone. You 
need feel no concern. Only pray for me in regard to the con- 
ference; everything else, as to myself, seems trifling. I got a 



246 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



letter here from Sister Palmer (very affectionate) and another 
from Bishop Janes, who will not be at this conference. Bishop 
Waugh will be on to-morrow in his place. I believe, if any 
labors of mine have been useful this year, they were on Sabbath. 
A large number of Ohioans were at meeting in the morning. 
At night (Monday) the large colored church was crammed fall, 
and probably a dozen of our city preachers were out. O for 
help here ! I dread this conference more than I did Baltimore. - 
I learn that the difficulties in this conference, in Accomac and 
Northampton, are growing worse and worse. The Methodists 
are determined to stay in the Philadelphia Conference, and the 
mobites [citizens] are determined they shall not. The former 
say they want preachers this year that ' are not afraid to die.' 
This looks like the ' perilous times, 1 and surely ' a man's foes are 
those of his own household.' The time is at hand and hasteth 
greatly. 

" I desire to be prepared, and have my family (and the Church) 
prepared, for all these things. I think God, who has so 
wonderfully wrought hitherto, will help us. There are fearful 
sights and great signs. I will join you, my beloved wife, in 
humble endeavors that we may be found worthy to stand before 
the Son of man. As conference begins in the morning, you 
must expect for a few days only a short line, but I will try to 
send one daily. The conference will close in little more than a 
week. Then, God willing, we will meet. Much love and a 
father's blessing to L. I trust he will do all he can to lighten 
your care and fatigue. I will add a note to-morrow before this 
goes. Good night! The Lord and Saviour give you both 
quiet, peace, rest. 

" Wednesday morning. — I feel strong in the Lord this morn- 
ing. I have partly engaged Bishop Morris to preach on entire 
sanctification here. Had a pleasant conversation last evening 
about his experience." 

" Wednesday, 31. — Conference opened by Bishop Morris, and 
having got the committees appointed, at half past ten o'clock 
suspended business to hear a sermon from Rev. Brother Dailey, 
an aged and excellent member of conference. Text : ' We 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 247 



preach Christ crucified.' One among the best sermons I have 
heard, overwhelming in its clear and forcible exhibitions of 
truth. How strange the taste of the people ! Here is a man 
of whom I never heard until I reached this place, and little 
known beyond his own conference ; yet there are men whose 
fame as orators is on both shores of the Atlantic, and after 
whom there is a rush of 'crazy crowds,' who probably have 
not in all the sermons they ever preached delivered so much 
real oratory as this humble man gave us in one sermon. The 
conference understand it, call for his sermon to be published, 
and it w r ould do them honor if it could travel and be read in 
two hemispheres. It is worthy to be placed beside Wesley's. 

" Sunday, April 4. — Preached at half past ten o'clock, and 
ordained fifteen elders. Lord, I will record thy goodness. 
Thou hast helped me in deed and in truth. Thou gavest me to 
speak thy word. I feel thy love still all flaming within me. 
I yield my body unto God a living sacrifice forever ! Amen." 

""Wilmington, Del., April 4, 1847. 
"To Mrs. H., — I will record the goodness of God to-day, 
and inscribe the record to you, my beloved wife. It is now one 
o'clock P. M. It is half an hour since I came from the sanctu- 
ary; but, blessed be God forever! I have been permitted, 
helped, rather enabled by mercy, to bring a sanctuary with me 
to my lodgings ! Christ is truly within me to-day. One of the 
sweetest seasons my Lord and Saviour has ever given me is to- 
day. And the fire which has burned gently in the morning, 
and waxed brighter and stronger till the close of the ordination, 
is a heat of joy and strength unspeakable now. Well may you, 
my beloved helper in the way, exhort me with the encouraging 
words of your precious letters, which come as messages from 
heaven, with a power of refreshing and strengthening unspeak- 
able to my poor soul. Doubtless, while I was trying to preach, 
' I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God,' etc., 
your heart, if not your lips, was pleading for me and for the 
cause in earnest struggles. The Lord did not, I am sure, turn 
away his ear or his heart from your faith and desire. Thank 
him, when you read this, at least as earnestly as you prayed. 



248 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINB. 



Thank him with praises, even with the 1 high praises of God. 7 
Let us now — for I am sure God is on the giving hand— press 
nearer to our blessed, bleeding Lord. I will strive to do it, hope 
to do it. Indeed, I think I may say, I do it. 

" Have just returned from dinner. Had two prayers, and a 
pleasant season. Now they are singing. Have not had much 
time for extra prayer, and the family having seventy pupils, 
nearly all boarders, are much engaged, of course. I think 
them a very pious family, and some twenty-five or thirty of the 
pupils have experienced religion this winter. Bishop Morris 
preached on entire consecration. He had about fifteen hundred 
hearers, and ordained the deacons. They, of course, heard the 
sermon. I have not heard from his effort. He preached on it, 
because he had promised to do so. 

"I preached in the pewed house, (a beautiful chapel, but 
small congregation,) which was filled without crowding. It 
was a remarkably pleasant time, and deep feeling, if I mistake 
not, pervaded the assembly. A much better spirit prevails in 
the conference than I expected. Many, very many, are hun- 
gering after righteousness. It is one of the best conferences 
as to order. I have not had occasion to say a word on the 
subject for four days. This shows that there is a spirit of devo- 
tion abroad. How often we are disappointed ! 

" I hope you are well to-day in soul and comfortable in health. 
Could I hear from you and L. now it would be pleasant. But 
I commit you to God and the word of his grace. May he con- 
vert and save my son, and sanctify the family. A circumstance 
occurred on Friday which I deem worth noticing. News came 
to the conference room that Sister E., the young wife of one of 
our young preachers, and only child of Brother S., one of the 
old preachers of the Philadelphia Conference, a rich man, and 
the David Young of the conference, had suddenly and unpect- 
edly died. The effect was great on him and on many in the 
conference. Bishop Waugh has gone to-day to preach at the 
funeral in Philadelphia. Brother S. greatly needed some strong 
admonition, and it has come — is strong indeed. Pray that 
God will bless it to him and the conference. Maybe it will help 
to start him forward as a veteran in the cause of holiness. His 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : FOURTH YEAR. 



249 



only child, and leaves useless riches on his hands. Thus God 
takes away. His children die. O that ours may be ready to live 
or die ! O that we may all be ready for every dispensation ! 

" Monday morning, seven o'' clock. — We had an excellent sermon 
last evening from Brother Lane. I had some wakefulness in 
the night and a wonderful nearness to Christ. I had indeed 
upon my pillow more than ever before. 

' The solemn awe which dares not move, 
And all the silent heaven of love.' 

I did not know but the ' heavenly atmosimere ' would stop my 
breathing, and that in it my soul would float away to the 
bosom of my God. But no, I am here ; yet how sweet the morn- 
ing ! Its heavenly perfumes are all around me ; the air is 
loaded with odors unearthly. Penitence, faith, glowing love, 
O how sweet ! But I must drop the theme from my sheet, not 
from my heart, and, with a word of other matters, close. We 
shall probably get through here on Thursday or Friday. Con- 
tinue to pray. 

" My dear. Son, — May the God of your fathers bless you ! 
Seek the Lord and you shall live. Were you and mother here, 
both of you in the same spirit, how much it would add to my 
joy ! Read the Bible, talk of Jesus, pray, and never rest with- 
out religion. Death and judgment are always near." 

" Wilmington, April 5. — Conference was harmonious to-day. 
Business progressed rapidly. I had strength and comfort. 
A long communication has come from the citizens of Accomac 
County, Ya. They would warn us from sending preachers to 
that region. But we must send them. The Methodists want 
them, and we are not at liberty to deny our people pastors. 
This interference of the citizens with the Church affairs of their 
pious neighbors is extraordinary. I have known nothing like 
it in America. Where is our boasted liberty of conscience ? 
That question, in connection with the times, awakes my fears. 
' tempora ! ' 

" Philadelphia, April 8. — Conference closed at nine o'clock 
last evening. A short address. Solemn close. The Lord has been 
gracious to me. I am much fatigued, but hope to escape sickness. 

II* 



250 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



" Tabrytown, April 9. — Preached here at eleven o'clock, 
haying left Philadelphia yesterday afternoon, and reached New 
York at ten o'clock. Find Mrs. H. improved in health. L. very 
feeble, but getting better. Thanks be to God for all his mer- 
cies ! Praise his holy name ! 

" April 10. — Made up the Minutes for the Book Room. Had 
a laborious day ; little time for meditation. In the evening 
Mr. Lyon returned with our excellent friend Mrs. Palmer. The 
Lord gives us great privileges. How wonderful his gifts and 
blessings ! 

" Sunday, 11. — Heard Mr. C. in the morning ; felt well, but 
faint in body. Did not think I could preach in the afternoon; 
but at three o'clock tried, more because I desired to preach than 
from any special sense of duty. It was a comfortable exercise, 
in which I took pleasure, and if any change an increase of 
strength. I am thinking a little of Africa. It seems to me 
if I die soon it would be agreeable for me to try African soil, 
and offer some little sacrifice to Christ before I go to meet him 
face to face. How little I have done and suffered for my Saviour ! 
May I find guidance from his hand, and wisdom in regard to 
this visit to Liberia ! I feel somehow drawn that way." 

" Taebytowh - , April 14, 1847. 

" To PtEV. Jacob Young, — Worn down as I am by the labors 
of the Baltimore and Philadelphia Conferences, I take up my 
pen to extricate myself from embarrassments relative to our 
long-continued, confiding, and, to me, most pleasant and profit- 
able correspondence. 

"We closed the Baltimore Conference the Saturday week 
after it commenced, having enjoyed great harmony in confer- 
ence, and gotten through much earlier and with less difficulty 
than usual. Border difficulties may be anticipated in Warring- 
ton, King George, Westmoreland, and Lancaster Cicuits, Ya. ; 
but these we must leave to the control of Providence, com- 
mending the four preachers sent to them to the prayers of the 
Church and the protection of Almighty God. In the Phila- 
delphia Conference the preachers sent to Accomac and North- 
ampton will have to meet most formidable difficulties ; and 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 251 



in the former, the 'citizen mind,' as Dr. Capers calls it, 
arrayed against the ' Methodist mind,' may kindle flames which 
nothing but the blood of several victims can quench. The 
violence of the excitement in Accomac exceeds ail I have 
known in connection with our border difficulties. I dread the 
results. 

"I wish to consult you, confidentially, on a matter of some 
importance to me, and possibly to the Church. While the 
bishops were holding their meeting in Philadelphia a paper 
reached us from Brother Pitman, Secretary, etc., inclosing a 
letter from Brother Benham, superintendent of the Liberia Mis- 
sions, urging a visit from one of the bishops to Africa to attend 
their next conference in January, to ordain the eight men 
elected to orders there, expressing great surprise that in seven 
years no bishop has visited their conference, and hinting that 
the Wesleyans at Sierra Leone, and the Protestant Episcopalians 
south of them, are urging our colored preachers to join them 
and receive ordination at their hands. The paper was read, 
and the Secretary asked our counsel what should be done. 
The bishops passed a resolution that we did not see it to be our 
duty to visit Liberia, and recommended that the eight elected 
men be brought over two by two, ordained and sent back to 
Africa. Not perfectly assured that this was right, I proposed 
a resolution, 'That though we could not recommend any 
one of our number to visit Liberia, yet if either felt it his duty 
to go, we would not disapprove of it.' This is the most favor- 
able resolution they were willing to pass. Now for the facts : 

" 1. If the eight men come over, two by two, for ordination, it 
will cost from $1,200 to $1,600 ; our journey there about $250 
to $300. 

" 2. If one does not go, I fear brethren will find fault with 
us, and say we were afraid, and missionary funds are lavished 
on our fears. 

" 3. The climate is proving more and more fatal to whites. 
One of our late missionaries (Hoyt) has returned, and the talk 
is of surrendering up the field wholly to the blacks. 

" 4. If any one goes, I must, as evidently none else feels it to 
be his duty. All decline promptly, and discourage me. 



252 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



" 5. If I go, I can only attend conference and come directly 
back, (having ordained the missionaries,) and perhaps my 
brethren would think worse of my going than of my staying 
here, unless I delay there long enough to visit the several 
stations and explore the country. Now I want your advice. 
Dr. Bond and others say I shall die if I go to be there but a 
week. Now, if ready, it is a pleasant tiling to die; but if 
I throw away my life I shall not be ready to die. I cannot tell 
whether it would be suicide or not. Write as soon as you can. 
Ask God for wisdom, and counsel me this once." 

"New York, Ap7'il 14. — At Dr. P.'s. Yesterday brought 
Leonidas here. A pleasant, profitable place to sojourn. Here, 
Lord, meet us with abundant blessings ! Shower grace upon 
us ! In the pure, Christian fellowship of this household let us 
be richly, richly blest ! I am now blest ! 

" April 15. — Spent the day in reading. Had some trials. 
Why not ? Lord, make me meek. Thou hast done great things 
for me. Eternity will reveal them. Saved of the Lord, O how 
saved ! I will lift up my head and rejoice, for I am saved of 
the Lord ! 

" April 16. — A fast unto the Lord. A precious season: felt 
drawn toward him. A fresh application of the blood of atone- 
ment. Had Africa in view to-day. Suspect I have not a war- 
rant to go there. Had my colleagues encouraged me, or had 
I anything that looked like a call to go, how freely would 
I start ! The Missionary Board, I understand, have invited two 
of the missionaries over to be ordained. If so, my way is 
scarcely open to go. Maybe the next General Conference will 
direct some one of us to go. If so, well. 

" Sunday, 18. — Preached in the morning at Old John-street 
(original hive) to a good congregation at half past ten, and at 
Allen-street at three o'clock. Good, precious seasons. O how 
sweet thy service, blessed Jesus ! I adore thee ! 

"Philadelphia, April 19. — Left New York at nine A. M., 
reached here at two P. M. We now fly, not travel. Manayunk 
has rejected its preacher. The minister asked for the appoint- 
ment. I gave it to him. Will it cure him ? " 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: FOURTH YEAR. 



253 



"Philadelphia, April 19, 1847. 

" To Mrs. H., — Dr. Durbin has been in, and he, with others, 
regrets your not being here. Sister Boswell was going on to 
spend the week with you in Salem. But at present who needs 
our prayers and tears and affectionate counsel more than our 
dear L. ? I feel continually as if I were preparing an answer 
for the judgment, as to how I have warned and counseled him. 
The Lord help me to be more faithful to him ! I will try to 
remember him much and often and fervently in prayer. 

"I had a pleasant journey to-day. Saw no preachers that 
I knew. Brother Jacob Young sends me a long, good letter. 
Says I must not go to Liberia." 

"Salem, N. J., April 20. — Reached here after a pleasant 
sail of five hours in the steamer Pioneer from Philadelphia. 
Three preachers along. Read in the ' Witness of the Spirit.' 
Have some faith and prayer for the conference. Lord, help ! 

21. — Conference opened with a short prayer-meeting. Session 
passed through pleasantly. About one hundred and fifty preach- 
ers here. Salem is a pleasant place for its session. Have a 
retired place to lodge. All right/' 

"Salem, April 21, 1847. 
" My dear Son, — Though pressed with business at conference 
time, I desire greatly to write you a line this morning before I 
go to the church. It is so critical a time with you now, that I 
can neither suppress nor conceal my great anxiety on your 
account. I have been thinking what a happy life mine would 
be, above what it now is, if at your age I had been acquainted 
with the Methodists, and from seventeen years old had lived a 
Christian. It seems to me, were the city of New York mine 
in fee simple, I would give it all away in one moment for the 
privilege of knowing and remembering that my whole life from 
seventeen to thirty years old had been given to Christ. I was 
at seventeen under deep religious impressions, but my Calvin- 
istic parents could not tell me how to be saved. I became 
stupid, and then they thought me converted ; and for three or 
four years I thought so too, and studied Greek and Latin, ex- 
pecting to be a minister in the Congregational Church, and 



254 



LIFE OF BISIIOF HAMLINE. 



prayed and talked in meetings ; and some were convicted and 
converted under my little talks. But I gradually became con- 
vinced that I was not converted, and finally gave it all up, and 
went to studying law, and took license as a lawyer in 1827 at 
Lancaster, Ohio. 

" But soon after, in 1828, your little sister, Eliza Jane Price, 
two and a half years old, our little idol, was taken sick and 
died, and with her your dear mother and I bmied all our 
earthly hopes and projects. We were then spending the sum- 
mer near Buffalo, X. Y., and in a Methodist family and neigh- 
borhood ; and among them, while under this bereavement, your 
parents were converted to God, truly and gloriously. Then I 
knew that my former state was not religion. 

" I began to talk to the people, and they got convicted and 
converted, and in a year I was licensed to preach without ask- 
ing for license, and since 1829 have been trying to labor a little 
in the Lord's vineyard. I was above thirty years old, if I re- 
member, when licensed. Now if I had been among the Method- 
ists, as you are, at seventeen, I presume I should have commenced 
preaching at twenty-one or earlier, and here would have been 
ten years saved ; and in them, by God's blessing, thousands of 
souls might have been saved by my feeble instrumentality. 
These ten years haunt me often, not to wound my conscience 
with guilt, but to wound my love and affections with great 
grief, that I should have used my Saviour so cruelly. O, I 
would give a world if I had it that I could blot them out ! 
And then these years were wasted, and in them my intellect 
was injured, and many of my friends lost confidence in me, and 
my Christian character has not that staidness, and I have not 
that power to do good that I should have had if I had been a 
Christian from the age of seventeen. I am not half as well 
qualified for usefulness now on account of my ten years lost. 

u My beloved son. will you not let your fathers errors warn 
you ? I expect in all eternity to be grieved (or something as 
near it as heaven will permit) at those ten years lost. Sometimes 
I feel almost afraid to go to heaven and see my Saviour on 
account of them, and the poor, unfaithful service I have ren- 
dered since, on account of habits of mind then formed. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 255 



"Now, my beloved son, when I think of your losing ten 
years to come, (and under Methodist training too,) it fills me 
with distress ; and I fear, in addition to that, you will lose your 
soul. I had not your privileges. I heard nothing of Method- 
ism. When at thirty years old I got to know what it was, it 
wrought on me. When you get to be thirty Methodism will 
not be to you as it was to me, a startling discovery, suddenly 
rousing you, and newly opening to you hopes and ways and 
prospects that you never before understood. What was by 
God's grace salvation to me, will have been already tried in 
vain on you. That which was a n^w medium to my soul will 
be an old one to you, tried thirty iyears in vain. O, my son, 
now let the remedy be effectual ! Come into the Church with the 
simple resolve, as Adams said, ' sink or swim, stand or fall, live 
or die, I go for seeing God ! ' I write in great anxiety, and must 
now break off and commit you to God's gracious love and care." 

" Thursday, 22. — Business goes on rapidly in conference ; slow 
in stationing room. Some aged men in the New Jersey Confer- 
ence : Vannest, one day older than Mr. Wesley at his death ; 
Bartine and Walker, very old and venerable men, and Brother 
Boehm. Their presence adds much interest to the appearance 
of the conference. Father Walker is waiting every moment for 
Christ to come ' either for death or judgment.' Amen ! 

"Saturday, 24. — A week of toil, but health and comfort. 
Bishop Janes has helped me, but leaves this evening. Confer- 
ence business forward, but in stationing backward. Feel 
Christ's presence, but O for more ! 

" Sunday, 25. — A good day. Tried to be faithful. Lord, for- 
give my failures ; but thanks to thy name for comforts large 
and plentiful. Ordained eight as elders. Brother Lane 
preached at evening. A precious season. Thanks ! 

" ^Monday, 26. — Hard work to-day. Fear I have exhorted the 
conference too little. In the midst of hard labor I forget. O 
blessed Jesus, fill me with the Holy Ghost ! Amen." 

" Salem, N. J., April 26, 1847. 
" To Mrs. H., — We had a remarkably pleasant Sabbath. I 
tried to preach in the morning on ' purity of heart,' and Brother 



256 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Lane in the P. M. on the 1 throne of grace.' The close of the 
P. M. services was followed by a voluntary general class. One 
old preacher (Father Keill, whom you saw at Burlington) com- 
menced it by springing up and telling his experience with 
shouts ; then Father Vannest followed ; then Father Boehm, of 
Staten Island; and then an old local elder by the name of 
Jaquett. It was a glorious time. The whole house was on 
fire ; and if the New Jersey preachers don't believe in perfect 
love, they believe in shouting. I think there is a good and 
rising spirit in conference. But, alas ! many of our preachers 
get happy rather than holy, and think more about it. I am 
well. Bishop Janes i3 gone. 1 hope to close conference on 
Tuesday night. I think to be in New York on Thursday. 
May the great Shepherd keep you, and gather L. into the fold !" 

" Salem, Tuesday, 27. — At ten o'clock P. M. closed conference. 
Much worn down, but well and comfortable. O Lord, help me 
to be more faithful ! Go with thy servants. Comfort them. 
Some of these preachers have hard work. They will not be 
crucified. O may the God of the harvest go with them ! 

" New Yokk, Friday, 30. — At Dr. P/s. Reached here from 
Philadelphia at three o'clock. Found my son very sick. Ex- 
pected to meet him nearly well, as letters to Salem had so 
announced. Disappointment. It is our lot, but good for us. 
' If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons.' 

" May 1. — Son no better ; very ill. I give him, blessed Jesus, 
to thee. Save his soul. Had a long interview with P. P. Sand- 
ford, presiding elder of New York District. I perceive there 
will be work enough on hand here. Lord, help thy servant, 
for Christ's sake. 

" Sunday, 2. — Preached at half past ten o'clock A. M. in Vestry- 
street, and at three P. M. in Second-street Church. Rain, and 
small congregations. Enjoyed the morning; P. M. less. Very 
weary. Spent the evening at home. L. very sick; suffering 
much. 

"Monday, 3. — General Missionary Committee at nine A. M. 
Called out at twelve o'clock to see my son, who was seized with 
convulsions. Spent the afternoon in the sick chamber. At two 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : FOURTH YEAR. 



257 



o'clock he had another dreadful convulsion — thought him 
dying. This evening little hope. Lord, help ! Nature groans 
in me. 

" Tuesday, 4. — Able to go to missionary rooms this morning 
and afternoon. L. better. Hope for his recovery. Sick to-day. 
Head much distressed. Nervous system disordered. Lord, I 
give all to thee — all ! Committee finished its business. 

" Wednesday, 5. — Spent the day in much relaxation, which I 
exceedingly needed. Have had toils and watchings. Feel low 
in spiritual things. L. still better, and a good prospect. I 
have never asked his recovery, but on condition that it is God's 
will, and he sees that my son will glorify him. 

" Thursday, 6. — Walked some about the city. Some relieved 
of my hard labor. Mind and body may spring up again in live- 
liness. Refreshing sleep does much for me. My habits are 
almost too regular in regard to sleep, as they cannot be violated. 

" Sunday, 9. — This is my last day of fifty years. A half cen- 
tury gone. It sickens me to look back, but it comforts me to 
gaze at the cross. Sin and salvation, guilt and grace ! What 
couplings ; yet they go together ! I have enough of each for 
both penitence and praise. Blessed God ! thou knowest that 
this weeping, rejoicing heart feels both. Glory be to God ! " 



258 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER Xm. 

episcopal labor: fourth year, continued. 

Life is made up of periods; and how solemn and eventful is 
the point of time when one is constrained to feel that the merid- 
ian of life is fully reached, and the future must be traversed on 
the shady side of life's declining hill. Bishop Hamline had 
now arrived at this point in his eventful career. Monday, 
May 10, he writes : 

"This day I am fifty years old. One half century have I 
lived in this world. As to any good my life has done, how 
vain it all looks. I cannot review the past in connection with 
myself, but I am pained at my very heart. I must fly from all 
to Christ. Lord, help me to fly ! I desire to yield a different 
service to my Redeemer for any time to come which he permits 
me to stay below. 

" If I may stay and labor ten or five years, and in these could 
be ' full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,' and exactly faithful to 
the solemn trust committed to me, maybe I should redeem 
time, of which there is great need. 

" Fifty years — one half century ! O how these years are fled ! 
Lord, pardon afresh all their transgressions. Sprinkle me to- 
day with atoning blood. Create in me a clean heart, O God, 
and renew a right spirit within me ! Help me for the honor of 
thy name. 'Teach my hands to war and my fingers to fight' 
in thy good cause. Hold thou me up, O Lord, that by thy 
strength I may toil, and by thy wisdom may do good to souls, 
and be the means of rendering praise to thy holy name in Zion ! 
What little time remains to me on earth may I spend to thine 
honor and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen ! 

" Monday, 17. — New York Conference has been in progress 
since last Wednesday. Nearly three hundred preachers in con- 
nection with it. Business has so far gone on rapidly, but many 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: FOURTH YEAR. 259 



difficulties threaten us ahead. This body is too large. If a 
constitutional restriction had limited our number to one hund- 
red it would have been better for the Church. These large 
conferences embarrass the business in the conference, and the 
stationing is at a disadvantage of from ten to twenty per cent. 

" Thursday, 27. — Conference closed this day at half past nine 
o'clock A. M. Have never seen as much business transacted in 
one annual conference. Nearly equal to six whole days were 
spent in church trials. Two cases occupied three days. The 
conference sat fourteen days, and most of the time had three 
sessions per day. Two ministers were suspended, one for a 
year, and the other indefinitely. With all these embarrassments 
there is not much humiliation in the conference. This is dis- 
couraging indeed. 

" There may sometimes be a precious harvest from very bitter 
seeds. When rej)entance and deep humiliation follow upon the 
calamities of the Church, Satan is often disappointed of his aim. 
The elements or preparations for a glorious revival follow such 
occasions of deep self-abasement. But I mourn to find that 
here a spirit of unbecoming levity has entered into the transac- 
tion of business, which should have grieved every heart, and 
have made every member of the conference a mourner. 

" Mrs. H. was taken sick during the conference, and con- 
tinues quite ill. Between public duties and private griefs I 
have been unusually burdened ; but the Lord has fulfilled his 
word, ' as thy day, so shall thy strength be.' I have endured 
beyond all my hopes. The end is not yet. I expect to hear of 
great dissatisfactions from some of the preachers, and from 
more of the people. I will wait with patience, bear with 
meekness, and strive to act with discretion, if thou, O Lord, 
without whom I can do nothing, in mercy will help me ! 

" Monday, 31. — Preached yesterday A. M. at Forsyth-street. 
No choir, no trustees, but we had a large congregation, and 
Christ was with us. It was a good season. The trustees were 
so offended at my returning Brother Stratton that they would 
not hear the bishop. Lord bless them all for Christ's sake ! 

" Sunday, June 6. — Preached to-day at Seventh-street and 
Forty-first-street. In the morning rather dull, in the P. M. a 



260 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAHLLNE. 



very pleasant time. Stayed with my sick wife in the evening 1 . 
Had very severe trials. Felt that I was weak, and that I 
needed the special aid and pity of my great Keeper. How can 
I go forward in my work ! I seem hedged up. My strength is 
gone. How wonderful that the holy One should look on such 
a worm, except to crush it forever ! 

" Lord, I cry unto thee. A tempest comes over me. Surely 
Satan desires to have me that he may sift me as wheat. Lord, 
lift up thine arm and save me, and thine shall be the glory ! 

" Sunday, 13.— Preached to-day in the morning at Jane-street 
and P. M. in Sullivan-street. A good time in the morning. 
Much better pleased with the Jane-street charge than I ex- 
pected to be. It is a very beautiful church, and a good par- 
sonage. Sullivan-street is not so pleasant a church, but a good 
congregation, and, I am told, an excellent society in the main. 

"Wednesday, 16. — Attended the Missionary Board. Two 
missionaries are asked for China. Where shall they be found ? 
I trust the way will providentially open before me. May 
Infinite Wisdom direct ! 

" Friday, 18. — This was a day of fasting and prayer for the 
New York Annual Conference. It was observed in the city. 
Most of the churches had preaching at half past ten A. M. and 
prayer-meeting at night. I tried to preach to the Allen-street 
congregation. I trust the occasion may have been profitable to 
a few. 'Christian decision' was the theme. How much we 
need it in the Church at this time ! How much the preacher 
needs it ! Lord help ! 

" Sunday, 20. — Preached at half past ten A. M. at Mulberry- 
street. A rainy morning, tolerable congregation, and a mod- 
erate time. P. M. rested, as I was unwell and weary. At 
night walked to Twenty-seventh-street and preached. 

u Wednesday, 23.— Left New York for Hillsdale. Dr. P. 
accompanied us to the boat with his pious wife, where we had 
a Christian farewell. Such Mends I have not found ; such a 
family for Christian order and steady, consistent piety I have 
never before seen. Whatever may be demurred to the doctrine 
of Christian perfection, here is an example of it. I have been 
in this family within one year more than to have stayed in it 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 261 



three Ml months. I have never yet heard an unadvised, un- 
charitable, undevout word, or witnessed an improper act. 
"What Wesley says of Fletcher can be safely said of them. 
Truly they are Christ's, and have 'put on the Lord Jesus.' 
What Sister P. is in her writings she is in her heart and life. 

" Sunday, 27.— Spent this day in Hillsdale. Found some 
comfort in laboring with Brother S. Preached in the morning 
four miles out at a school-house, and in the afternoon to the 
Methodist congregation in the Presbyterian church. 

" Boston, Mass., Monday, 28. — Reached here in the cars at 
six o'clock very weary. Put up at Franklin (temperance) 
House near the old ' Faneuil.' Too weary to look up friends. 
Rather a poor day. 

" Saco, Me., Tuesday, 29. — Reached here at twelve M., and 
put up at the preacher's. Bishop Hedding not arrived when 
I came. Expected this evening. The railroad to this place 
is very fine. Came the upper route, by Andover. 

"Wednesday, 30. — Maine Conference opened at nine o'clock 
by Bishop Hedding. He is in good health, his mind vigorous 
as in his prime, and probably he was never more useful to the 
Church than just at this time. The members of conference 
seem as his children, and he is truly a patriarch in the midst of 
them. How venerable his position and his character ! May 
the Lord continue him in the midst of us for many years to 
come! 

" July 2. — Conference progresses rapidly and pleasantly. 
The business is carried straight forward. No man on the floor 
makes a speech on any occasion. Perfect order reigns without 
any effort by the president." 

" Saco, July 5, 1847. 
"To Mrs. H., — The Sabbath passed off pleasantly and 
profitably. I was appointed to preach in the morning, and Dr. 
Olin in the P. M. He had not preached since last August, 
almost a year, and was likely to decline ; but I changed with 
him, and he preached a wonderful sermon, probing to the 
quick, in the morning, and Bishop Hedding ordained the 
deacons. I tried to preach on ' purity of heart ' at two o'clock, 
and ordained the elders. I think some good was done. This 



262 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



is a very pleasant conference. Not an unkind word, glance of 
the eye, or token of unkindness have I seen in or out of con- - 
ference. 

" The love-feast yesterday morning was one of the best I ever 
attended, and probably more than half that spoke professed per- 
fect love. A great interest prevails. I have been received as a 
friend, brother, and minister. We have had several brethren 
here from abroad, and Brothers Pitman and Levings came in 
to-day." 

" Tuesday, G. — Eight delegates were chosen to-day in one 
balloting; a rare occurrence. The Erie resolutions were 
unanimously rejected. Conference asks a division. 

" Boston, Mass., Wednesday, 7. — Conference adjourned at 
twelve o'clock, and I took the cars at three for this city. Put 
up again at the ' Franklin.' Weary ; not so much religion as I 
need. Lord, revive me ! 

" Chatham Four Corners, N. Y., Thursday, 8. — Reached 
here at five P. M., and put up at a temperance house. Have 
rode one hundred and eighty miles in eight hours. A mixed, 
large company. Hoped to have reached Hillsdale to-night. 
God has protected my journeyings. I ought to praise him. 

"Chatham, N. Y., Sunday, 11. — Preached in the morning 
at Spencer; P. M., here. Rather a dull day. I fear I have less 
spiritual life than usual. Think I am not well. 

"Barrington, Mass., Monday, 12. — Reached here to-day. 
Found Mr. Humphreys in distress at the death of my worthy 
sister Sophronia, his wife. She died last August, aged fifty- 
five. She was pious. She suffered much in sickness. I believe 
she is in heaven. The last time I was here (1844) she was 
devout, and parted with me saying, 'Brother, if we meet no 
more in this world, I expect to meet you in heaven.' Lord, 
grant me grace to meet her there ! " 

" Hillsdale, N. Y., July 14, 1847. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Grace, mercy, and peace be with 
you and abound toward you and yours, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. We can truly adopt that language, ' I thank my 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: FOURTH YEAR. 263 



God upon every remembrance of you.' Religious remembrances 
should fill us with gratitude and provoke thanks. Is this what 
the psalmist means when he says, 1 Therefore will I remember 
thee from the land of Jordan ? ' Memory is nearly half the 
soul. How many hours are spent in exercising it ! It was the 
only form mentioned by Abraham to the rich man : ' Son, 
remember ! ' It contributes a chief part of the song of the 
Eedeemed : ' Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by 
thy blood ! ' 

" There are some things in our history so grateful to memory 
and so chastening to the affections that we do well not to 
forget them : as our conviction, our conversion, special baptism 
of the Spirit, and recoveries and interpositions by grace and by 
Providence. And to these I may add those seasons of com- 
munion with the saints which have specially and permanently 
benefited us, giving joy, and adding no sorrow therewith, 
purifying the heart and strengthening in us all the gracious 
purposes of our souls to live for God alone. Such things 
should not be forgotten. 

" I returned from the Maine Conference last Thursday and 
found Mrs. H. improved. 

" Last Sabbath I went sixteen miles north, and spent the 
Sabbath in labors there, returning by Barrington, and preaching 
there on Monday evening, and arriving here yesterday, (Tues- 
day.) Preached last evening to old Mr. Foster and his wife, 
(now unable to get to church,) and administered the sacrament 
to them and a few of their neighbors and their large circle of 
connections. I preached on Luke ii, 25-31. It was a pleasant 
season, and I trust not unprofitable to my parlor congregation. 
Old Mr. Foster (the father of him who called on you) is now 
eighty-eight, and his wife not much less, both waiting, full of 
hope, for their Lord. 1 ' 

" Binghamton, N. Y. July, 22. — Left Ithaca at six A. M., 
and reached here at seven P. M. Weary. Learn that confer- 
ence has gone on pleasantly and rapidly. Bishop Morris and 
wife well. Am quartered near the Methodist church in a 
comfortable way. 



264 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



" Friday, 23. — Oneida Conference has about one hundred 
and sixty members. Much talent. Several visitors here — Dr. 
Olin, Dr. Peck, and Dr. Dempster. The latter urges the theo- 
logical school on the attention and patronage of the conference. 
Is defeated." 

" BtPTGHAMTON, Juty 23, 1847. 

" To Mrs. H., — I feel greatly refreshed to-day; visited from 
on high more than usual. I was enabled to speak a few words 
at close of conference. Met a great many brethren who seemed 
full of comfort, and my own heart had a holy day in com- 
munion with them and with my Saviour. I am glad that I am 
here. 

" I have the elders to ordain, and shall of course, I suppose, 
be engaged in the P. M. of Sabbath. 

" I received the enclosed letter from Sister Barry, and send it 
to you, thinking you may desire to answer it. I can write 
another time. Her vision or fancy of the seal, hand, and arm 
is strengthening, and helps me. I am now taking hold of that 
strong arm. O may I grasp it firmly and forever ! 

" I hope for much profitable entertainment, meditation, and 
profit here. Let us pray much. Give my best love to Dr. 
Stevens and his good lady, and I pray that you all three may 
climb the ladder and be dwelling on high, and have for a place 
of defense the ' munition of rocks ' before I return. 

" Be watchful of your health, but be ' careful for nothing, 
but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanks- 
giving, let your requests be made known unto God ! ' " 

" "We have our home in heaven." 

" Sunday, 25. — Bishop Morris preached at eight A. M. and 
ordained the deacons. I attempted it at ten, and ordained the 
elders, (10.) Dr. Olin preached at two P. M. stirringly. What 
a man ! His eloquence is all out of the ordinary course, yet 
he has no eccentricity, only greatness. Could I preach as he 
does I would almost desire never to stop. He will leave no 
proper memorial of his greatness. He can write, but then his 
thoughts lie on the paper like the cinders around the volcano, 
affording no conception of the scenes of the eruption. He is a 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 265 



holy mam For the second time he informed me that he 
enjoyed the perfect love of God. This was a good day to my 
soul. 

"Wednesday, 28. — Conference asks a division into Oneida 
and Wyoming Conferences. It has elected eight delegates 
who will go for nullifying all the last General Conference 
action on the subject of separation. The elements are gath- 
ering. 

" Thursday, 29. — Conference adjourned at five P. M. Preach- 
ers generally satisfied with appointments. The close of an 
annual conference is sublimely affecting. O thou God of Israel, 
go with thy servants, and give them victory ! 

" Ithaca, N. Y., July 30. — Reached here at seven o'clock. 
Found Mrs. H. improved. Goodness and mercy have followed 
us. Took lodgings with Brother King, who kindly came over 
with his pious lady to invite us to their pleasant home. 

" Saturday, 31. — Had the company of Dr. Bowen and lady, 
and of Dr. Stevens and lady, at tea. A pleasant circle. Prayer 
and religious discourse consumed the evening. Another week ! 
Eternity is at hand ! 

" Sunday, August 1. — Preached in the morning at the Meth- 
odist church. P. M. heard Mr. Henry of the Reformed Dutch 
Church, who preached for the Methodists, that I might preach 
for him in the evening, which I did. Not enough of the Holy 
Ghost in my preaching to-day. 

" Monday, 2. — Spent the P. M. at Brother Bowen's. Judge 
Dana, ex-member of Congress, present. Talked about disci- 
pline. Quite too much laxity in these regions. 

" Candor, N. Y., Thursday, 5. — This place is ten miles from 
Owego. Reached here at eleven o'clock A. M. and preached to 
a full house in the evening. Was brought here by the kind- 
ness of Dr. Miles and Brother More of Ithaca, where I have left 
my wife sick, she having been taken ill last night, so that I 
was compelled to leave her behind. I put up here with Father 
Judd, a superannuated preacher of the Oneida Conference, a 
venerable man, who has labored between thirty and forty years 
in the vineyard. He has a comfortable house, a small farm, 
and pious wife and children, all members of the Church." 

12 



266 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" To Mrs. H., — We reached here about half an hour since, 
after a pleasant ride. I have authorized an appointment at 
Jacksonville, eight miles from Ithaca, on Tuesday next, Tru- 
mansburgh, four miles farther, on Thursday night, and at Har- 
rington on Sabbath, 15. If you are sick you can stay at Ithaca ; 
if well, they will be little rides of pleasure. The Lord bless 
thee and bear us nearer and nearer to himself, for Christ's sake. 
Love to friends." 

"To Mrs. H., — Your sweet letter helped me. I have had 
better times here than ever before. God has wonderfully 
blessed me. Go on. I pray much for you, and feel that God 
hears me. Brother Clark preached an excellent sermon, and 
we raised a collection for him of twenty dollars. I shall prob- 
ably be home on Wednesday next. God bless thee, beloved, 
and sanctify us wholly, soul, body, and spirit. I will talk to 
you when I see you about God's wonders to my soul. My 
temptations seem to vanish like vapor before the sun. O ! Christ 
is precious. Almost all the time my peace is like a river. 
Farewell, with ever-during love in Christ." 

" Otteoo, August 7, 1847. 
" To Mrs. H., — I write this morning just before leaving for 
Brother Agard's. I got your second letter two minutes ago, 
and bless and praise God. I felt in family prayer an unusual 
confidence in committing you to God, and having sent for your 
letter before breakfast, and finding the post-office not open, my 
waiting was calculated to try my patience and my faith. I 
now write, and leave the letter with Brother Ransom, who will 
try to get it conveyed by a passenger to Dr. Stevens, that you 
may get it before the Sabbath. We owe more than ten thou- 
sand talents, and have nothing to pay ; but to the humble, 
forgiveness is so grateful ! Where we really and truly forgive, 
do we not marvelously pity, and, if it be suitable, even love ? 
When God forgives us, he makes a change in us which renders 
it fitting for him to love us. How then must he love us ! This 
thought, a fresh one, makes my heart gush out in streams of 
holy gratitude. But there is this to be added: we are for- 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 267 



given in Christ and through his death, and it seems to me 
God's thoughts and feelings in regard to Christ and his death 
run over on to us and embrace us as part and parcel of the 
wonder. 1 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you.* 
Christ and his redeemed became one to the Father's affections. 
Glory to God ! 

" Pray for me. As to doing good, it is like an ant cradling 
wheat ; but Christ is mine, is ours. The Lord restore and bless 
and keep thee ! " 

" Owego, N. Y., Sunday, 8. — Preached twice in the large 
Methodist church here. Not a very satisfactory day's labor. 
Quite ill this evening ; faint and feeble. My work is well nigh 
done. 

" Ithaca, Monday, 9. — Had a sick night at Owego. Found 
very kind friends who watched me and assisted me, or it might 
have been my last night on earth. By the mercy of God was 
able to ride to this place to-day, and found my dear wife some 
better. 

" Tuesday, 10. — Preached this night at Jacksonville. Dr. 
Miles and Brother Heath rode out with me and returned. A 
good congregation, and serious ; but great stupidity prevails 
in all this region. ' Woe to them that are at ease in Zion.' 

" Trumansburgh, Wednesday, 11. — This is a fine village of 
six or eight hundred souls. Dr. Jerome kindly came after us 
and conveyed us to his house. 

" Thursday, 12. — Preached this evening to a full house, of all 
mixtures, on 'perfect love.' Good attention, but no signs of 
feeling. The people of these parts think, but if they feel, they 
do it inwardly, ' and as it were in secret.' It is a time of de- 
clension, however. 

" Ovid, N. Y., Saturday, 14. — We came (brought on by 
Brother Ellsmore, a worthy local deacon) by Farmersville and 
Lodi to Ovid, twenty-six miles from Ithaca. It was, except 
heat, a most delightful ride. This is, in summer, a fairy land. 
Put up with Rev. Brother Davis. 

" Sunday, 15. — Preached twice. Much attention, little feeling. 
I fear the fruit will be little. I understand from Brother Davis 



268 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



that a fearful declension prevails, that vice is increasing, and is 
alarming. We have not reached the millennium yet. A dark 
night is to precede that glorious day. The prophets do not lie, 
and we shall yet have interpreted to us, 1 1 saw three unclean 
spirits like frogs.' Rev. xvi, 13. Lord, help thy people to 
watch ! I feel the need of refreshings in my own soul." 

u Ovid, N. Y., August 16, 1847. 
"To Rev. Jacob Young, — It seems a long time since I 
heard from you. . . . My health has been better, but I am not 
sound. 

" I have this year attended my own conferences, namely, the 
Baltimore, Philadelphia, New Jersey, and New York, and have 
also visited the Maine Conference with Bishop Hedding, and 
the Oneida Conference with Bishop Morris. I am now on my 
way to the Genesee Conference with Bishop Morris. From 
thence I propose to go with him to Michigan, and then to 
Ohio. I shall have been absent almost a year, and shall have 
stayed at home only four weeks in eighteen months, having 
been laboring in the pulpit and at conferences steadily without 
any rest all that time except four weeks. After I get around 
to Ohio I propose to spend some weeks in the winter, in read- 
ing, praying, and writing, and hope the brethren will not think 
me indolent if I do so. 

" I shall be at Geneva, N. Y., until the first of September, 
and expect to spend a few days at Buffalo, say till the seventh 
of September. Can you not write to us there ? We greatly 
desire to hear from you. Much employed. I must close, in the 
hope and belief that we and our dear families will soon meet 
in heaven." 

" Lodi, N. Y., August 17. — Preached this night in the ' Dutch 
Church ' to a large and serious congregation of Presbyterians, 
Dutch Reformed, and Methodists. Had a very comfortable 
afternoon and evening. Lodged with a very lovely Christian 
family, Kelley, a young and heavenly-minded convert, a year 
old. Felt it pleasant to be with them. Had an interview with 
Rev. M. Liddle, Dutch ' domine.' A sincere man. He was edu- 
cated in Scotland ; studied with Dr. Chalmers. He gave me 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 269 



information about the Free Church of Scotland, which changed 
my views of that community in some degree. 

" Thursday, 19. — Preached to-night at Townsendville, five 
miles from Lodi. Put up with Brother Miller. A fine family. 
He is a sanctified man. A poor time in preaching. 

" Penn Yan, N - . Y., August 20. — Came over the lake from 
Lodi. Rev. William Goodwin and Sister Tuell met us at the 
landing with an easy carriage, and we had a pleasant ride of 
seven miles to this place, which lies by a crooked lake. The 
town contains about three thousand inhabitants, and four or 
five good churches. We put up at Brother Tuell's, and are 
kindly cared for. 

"Sunday, 22. — Preached twice, spoke twenty minutes in 
a love-feast, and consecrated the elements for the Eucharist. 
Not a day of rich consolations. Lord, revive me ! 

"Geneva, N. Y., August 23. — Three years ago I was here 
also, in poor health. God has preserved me. I hope for a 
baptism while here. I need it greatly. Come, Saviour, to my 
poor heart ! I take lodgings with my dear Brother F. G. Hib- 
bard, one of the choice ones of the earth. May it be a profita- 
ble season to us. 

" Wednesday, 25. — Genesee Conference opened at nine A. M., 
and all the session taken up in miscellaneous business. I feel 
revived these two days past. Thanks be to God ! 

" Thursday, 26. — I am much revived. I have tried confession 
and am blessed. I feel Christ unusually near me. I am blessed ! 
O, I am blessed ! 

" Friday, 27. — Conference proceeded rapidly to-day. About 
one hundred and thirty elders were examined at one sitting, 
and of only two hours. Great harmony prevails, and so far the 
session is pleasant. ' The best of all is, God is with us.' 

" Saturday, 28. — Conference agreed on division, if General 
Conference please. That is right. Brother E. Bowen, of Oneida 
Conference, preached on 'Be ye perfect' a most excellent ser- 
mon. Many rejoiced. Blessed be God ! 

11 Sunday, 29. — Preached this day at three o'clock. Trust 
some good may have been done. Bishop Morris preached at 
ten A. M. a delightful sermon. Deacons were ordained by me 



270 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



at the close of sermon, and elders by Bishop Morris at three P. M. 
Our love-feast in the morning was one of the very best. The 
Lord has been merciful to us to-day. I trust his ministers are 
rising in zeal and purity. O may the baptism come speedily ! 
Lord, revive us, shine upon us, and we will praise thee. 

u Tuesday, 31. — Conference progresses rapidly. The spirit is 
good, delightful ; no harsh words or looks of displeasure. Sev- 
eral preachers here are very devout. The missionary annivers- 
ary last evening was remarkably interesting. Henry Hickok 
was informed after the services commenced that he was 
appointed to China, and being introduced as the appointee, 
made a short, excellent address; and after remarks by Dr. 
Levings more than three hundred dollars were contributed. 
Robert S. Maclay is also appointed for China." 

"Geneva, N. Y, August 31, 1847. 

" To Rev. Henky Hickok, — You were informed last evening, 
in our interview in the chapel, of your appointment to the China 
Mission. But it is proper that the information should be con- 
firmed by letter, which will be to others also a notification of 
the fact. Your appointment takes effect from this date ; and 
ypu will please consider yourself now released from any of 
those obligations to home service which would in the least 
degree interfere with your preparation for your new and dis- 
tant field of labor. 

" I understand by a letter from the chairman of the Commit-" 
tee on China Missions, Rev. D. P. Kidder, that it is desirable to 
get the missionaries to sail in October. I would direct you to 
him for information, and shall notify him to-day of your 
appointment. 

" As you will be the senior minister of the mission, I deem it 
proper to say, that you will be charged at present with the 
superintendency of it, and will consider yourself as sustaining 
that relation, at least until the way shall be opened, if it please 
Providence, to appoint one of greater age to that station. I 
write to your colleague, and you can, if you please, open a cor- 
respondence with him. His address is, Rev. R. S. Maclay, 
Gettysburgh, Adams Co., Pa. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR! FOURTH YEAR. 271 



" And now, my dear brother, go in the strength of the Lord 
God, and penetrate the darkness of that empire of heathenism. 
Go, and with the thunders of the Divine Word shake the idol 
temples, and with the fires of the Holy Spirit consume their 
altars from off the earth. Israel's God shall go with thee and 
with thine. He shall give thee a rod to carry in thine hand, 
mightier than Aaron's. And plagues, more potent than fell 
upon Egypt, shall follow thy footsteps as thou goest out against 
the enemies of thy crucified Lord; and potent too, not to 
destroy, but to save. Live by the cross, and by the cross 
expire. If you do this, life and death shall be equally wel- 
come. Should you live and labor long, may the chariots of 
God surrounding you be your defense, and above all, may the 
everlasting arms be beneath you. If called to martyrdom, may 
the grace of God be in thee to sweeten its cup, and make its 
cruel tortures as a bed of roses. He shall be with you who 
said, ' Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown 
of life.' " 

" Buffalo, September 6, 1847. 

" To Rev. Henry Hickok, — As you request, I will mention 
in few words some of your leading duties as superintendent of 
the China Mission, so long as it will be necessary for you to 
sustain that responsible relation : 

" First. Your office will require that you take charge of all 
the missionaries, and direct them wlieri, w7iere, and how to labor, 
assigning them their stations, changing them, separating and 
reuniting them when you deem the work demands it, calling 
them together for counsel, etc., and marking out the forms of 
agency (whether by the press or otherwise) which seem most 
likely to win the perishing to the cross of Jesus Christ. 

"Second. You should keep an exact account of all drafts, 
payments, credits, and property of every sort coming into your 
hands for the benefit of the mission and the missionaries, as 
also of the disbursements of the same, whether to the mission- 
aries or other persons, always taking receipts, as vouchers when 
you settle with the board. Great care and promptness in this 
department may be considered indispensable to your own com- 
fort and the prosperity of the mission. 



272 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Third. You will often find it necessary to act as the agent 
of the board in making purchases for the mission of goods, pro- 
visions, etc., and may possibly be called (should your superin- 
tendency continue long) to negotiate with the government 
officers of the empire for franchises of some sort, such as will 
directly or indirectly contribute to the safety and comfort of 
the missionaries, or the promotion, in some way, of the blessed 
cause. 

"Fourth. You will probably have occasion to act in some 
way as the instructor or guide of the ' Missionary Committee 
and Board,' (or whatever agency the General Conference may 
create to estimate the salaries of missionaries,) in fixing the 
allowance for the several missionaries, and the appropriations 
for the whole mission, so that a discreet economy may be exer- 
cised, and none of God's treasure be squandered ; yet so also 
that the missionaries be comfortable, and not hindered or em- 
barrassed in their work. To this part of your duty I would 
advise you to have an eye in keeping your accounts, and in 
reckoning your own domestic and personal expenses. 

" Fifth. From the nature and necessity of the case, the judi- 
cial authority of the presiding elder [see Discipline, p. 67] must 
inhere in you, or the time might come when an unworthy man 
should escape the responsibility which in some cases ought to 
be immediately visited upon him by suspension. If, therefore, 
any member of the mission is charged with moral offense, 
(which may God in his mercy forbid,) you will be bound to 
call him to an account before a clerical committee, not to expel 
him, which you have no power to do, but to suspend him if 
necessary, and forward the recorded proofs of his delinquency 
(as full as may be) to his conference in the United States. 

" Sixth. The oversight of the spiritual state of the mission, 
embracing every possible effort to maintain the high enjoy- 
ment of religion in your own hearts and families, and to secure 
the power of the Holy Spirit as our fathers and as the apostles 
enjoyed it, will be one of your most solemn duties — may I not 
say the most solemn of all. For considering what you are — 
God's servants and Christ's ministers to millions of pagans — 
were not hunger and thirst and persecution and martyrdom to 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 273 

be preferred a thousand times to such a loss of spiritual savor 
and strength as will lead to ensuing defeat and reproach, and 
blot out the hope of the Church so far as her work in China 
is concerned. Much and regular and earnest prayer, and 
a living just under the sanctifying, the all-cleansing blood of 
the crOss ; this, and this only, will answer your turn as mission- 
aries to that empire of sin and death." 

" Thursday, 2. — Conference closed at half past ten A. M. A 
short session for Genesee. It asks a division by the Genesee 
River. This is well. The body is too large to do business 
comfortably. 

" Friday, 3. — Reached Buffalo at nine P. M., and was con- 
veyed by Brother Sully to his house in the north part of the 
city. Am weary and make haste to rest. It has been a busy day. 

" Sunday, 5. — Preached at half past ten A. M. to a small con- 
gregation in Niagara-street, and again at three P. M. at Swan- 
street. It has been a rainy but comfortable day. Some, not 
large, comfort. 

" Monday, 6. — To-day have visited Niagara Falls for the first 
time. It is a wonder indeed, but as such made no impression 
on me. I did not wonder at it. I anticipated a perfect shock ; 
but many a cascade twenty feet high has impressed me more 
than this. I tried every way to be affected with a sense of the 
sublime. Went down the immense flight of steps and up again, 
that I might be fully aware of the great depth of the water- 
fall. Crossed over to the Table Rock, viewed it from many 
positions below and above, but all in vain. I did not succeed 
in gaining any impression of the sublime or magnificent ; yet I 
am not a stoic, but generally have as quick a sensibility of what 
is grand or beautiful as any person I have known. The mount- 
ain scenery on Lake Champlain and the Hudson, and even the 
prairies of Wisconsin, nearly intoxicated me in 1844 and 1846. 
The fact is, my wonder had died away years ago in regard to 
the Falls. From description they had been familiar to me 
forty years; and when I saw them it was as though I had 
lived on the banks of the cataract all that time. This is my 
explanation." 

12* 



274 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



"Bvffalo, September 6, 1847. 
"Miss Phebe axd Master Walter Palmer, — My dear little 
Friends, — On returning from Niagara Falls this evening a large 
and beautiful letter was put into our hands, foil of the most 
delightful news. And the great cataract was forgotten as we 
read it, and we felt that one such letter was worth more than 
to see a thousand Niagaras, if each one were ten times greater 
than this. It told us about good meetings and hearts made 
new, and dying sinners coming to Christ, and humble Chris- 
tians made holy and becoming strong to serve God. Then, to 
crown all, we found that our dear little friends, Phebe and Walter, 
were looking and longing after Christ, and seeking new hearts. 
We had before thought of writing to you. but could not well 
get time ; but on reading pa and ma's letter with all this good 
news, I said to Mrs. H. I must sit down now and write. But as 
my letter must be very short, I will just say these new hearts 
which you talk about are better than all the gold in the world ; 
better than a house full of diamonds. Now you know you 
could not get all this gold, or so many diamonds, if you would 
ask, and travel, and dig. and try a thousand years. But the 
better than gold or diamonds — a new heart — you may both 
get by just asking. For Jesus says, 1 Ask, and ye shall receive.' 
Only you must go on asking till the blessing comes, which you 
may be sure it will, and that very soon. When you have prayed 
for a new heart, you must be careful and not 'upset' your 
prayers by getting a little angry at pa, ma, Sarah, or ' Uncle 
Miley;' or by getting a little proud or vexed in some way. 
Suppose you should jump up from prayer and turn and scold, 
or cry ill-naturedly, do you think the scolding would not kill 
the prayer, so that it would bring you no blessing ? Surely it 
would. 

" When you ask God for a new heart, you must ask him to 
give it to you for Christ's sake, or because Christ died for you. 
Your dear parents will tell you more about this. I do hope, 
my dear children, that you will so keep praying, day and night, 
that God, 'for Christ's sake,' will soon make your hearts all 
new. He will do it, for he says in the Bible, (and the Bible, 
you know, is every word true,) ' A new heart will I give you.' 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 275 



There it is in so many words, and God says it, and had it writ- 
ten down that we may tell him over what he says, and plead 
with him to do as he has said. 

" A few days ago I appointed two good and godly men to go 
to China as missionaries. One is Mr. Hickok, who lives out 
this way, is twenty-eight years old, with a pious wife who is 
willing to bid all her relations adieu forever, and go to try to 
save the heathen. The other is Mr. Maclay, preaching near 
Carlisle, Pa. He has no wife, but goes alone. They both wish 
to go, and live and labor and die in China. You may see them 
in New York, for they will be there by and by to sail for China. 
If they are faithful, they will wear bright crowns in heaven. I 
should love to be a missionary above all things ; but I am get- 
ting too old and clumsy. You are too young, but there is this 
difference : you will get older, while I can never get any youn- 
ger ; so I must give it up. But, indeed, I would love to be a 
poor, faithful missionary. 

" I must now finish. Mrs. H. and I are both tired ; but we 
are not ' miserable,' as some say. We have both had a happy 
day. "We had a pious visit at the Falls. Bishop and Mrs. 
Morris, and Mr. Thomas, a mighty good, holy man, were our 
companions. It was a very pious excursion. Pa will tell you 
what ' excursion ' means. We got so happy when we reached 
here, that we prayed and praised all together with our ' new 
hearts,' (for old hearts get new and keep new if we have relig- 
ion.) O may Jesus make yours new ! " 

"Detboit, Saturday, 11. — Reached here at sunrise, having 
been thirty-six hours on the lake from Buffalo. We had a fine 
run on the ' Cleveland,' American side, having lost the ' London' 
on the Canada side by her delay. We had a good sail. 

" Sunday, 12. — Preached at half past ten A. M. in Second 
Church, and at eight P. M. in First Church. We had a good 
love-feast in the morning, my soul being blessed. Many gave 
witness to perfect love. This is a good Sabbath. ' Bless the 
Lord, O my soul ! ' 

" Monday, 13 — Looked about Detroit. Find it teeming with 
Germans. Three mammoth Roman Churches, one about 80 by 



276 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



180 feet. Two Methodist Episcopal Churches about 42 by 65. 
Preached this evening to thirty Germans. 

" Tuesday, 14. Left my wife at Judge Wilkins's, a devoted 
Christian jurist, and reached Ypsilanti at twelve o'clock. Four 
hours on the railroad thirty miles. Put up with Dr. Town, in 
company with Bishop Morris." 

"Saturday, /September 18, 1847. 

" To Mrs. H., — I have been up two hours nearly, (now seven 
A. M.,) and have had more prayer than usual. I feel comfortable. 

"I have had pleasant communion with Bishop Morris and 
the brethren. The town is much crowded, will be more to-day. 
I hope for a good Sabbath to-morrow. Feel determined to try 
to do my duty. Find a few men read sermons here. Brother 
W. of Buffalo, I think, read one last night, (or night before,) 
and it was a Maffit affair, except taste and elocution, having 
angels with their ' sunny pinions,' and ' rosy clouds,' and many 
such like matters all through it. O for men filled with the 
Holy Ghost to preach Christ crucified 1 

"Be faithful, my dear M., in the family. I may come on 
Tuesday, so as to reach Xenia on Saturday next." 

" Ypsilanti, Mich., September 15. — Michigan Conference com- 
menced its session to-day. About seventy members present, a 
goodly company. Conference opened with prayer by several 
brethren. Some fervor in devotion. 

" Thursday, 16. — Conference progresses slowly. No especial 
tokens of devotional habits. I fear we are not, as ministers, 
devoted as we should be. 

11 Friday, 17. — I put up with Dr. T., a pleasant New York 
family. I have Bishop Morris for a companion. Dr. Pittman 
and his wife have arrived. 

" Saturday^ 18. — Conference has got along better for a day or 
two. This is a Northern people. Their house is large, and they 
sit to pray, and turn round and gaze at the choir like an exhibi- 
tion in singing. 1 tempora I ' " 

"Ypsilanti, September 19, 1847. 
"To Mrs. H., — This has been one of the best, the best con- 
ference Sabbath I have witnessed this year. The Lord met us 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 277 



in love-feast. Bishop Morris preached on ' Sanctify you wholly, 1 
(Thess.,) and it was a time of power. At two o'clock I tried to 
preach thirty-five minutes on Rom. xii, 1, and we wound up ' in 
a storm.' Ordained the elders and administered the Lord's 
Supper to all the preachers, and the whole occupied but two 
hours from the time we left the house till we returned. 

" To me it has been a precious day. I feel the fire burn un- 
usually in my heart. It is said this conference is in a better 
state than three years ago, and I suspect it is true. I have 
agreed to speak in the missionary meeting to-morrow night. 
I often send you notice of my expected labors that you may 
be able to pray for me at the time. Now, my dear M., let us 
struggle near to Christ. On the word ' acceptable ' to-day I felt 
much, more than usual. ' More acceptable ' for our very vile- 
ness; more precious to God's affections when we penitently 
return, from the very fact that we had been ' prodigal ' exiles 
and (dead) are alive again. Lord, help us to realize it with 
adoring gratitude, trust, and faithfulness ! 

"My best love to Brother and Sister Wilkins. O what a 
bright pathway is before them! They have something to 
sacrifice for Christ. How glad should they be, and how quick 
to sacrifice it ! The fidelity of either may depend much upon 
the other. (After tea.) Poor, sad Dr. T. (my host) is scold- 
ing about the shouting. He wont say Bishop Hamline intended 
to make them shout, but he thinks ' Tippett ' did, and is in- 
dignant. He says they have not so much of the ' animal ' up 
this way. Bishop Morris hits him on one side, and Pitman 
gives it to him without mercy. I think we shall get a shout 
under Pitman's sermon to-night, and may it come in thunder ! 

"Monday Morning, seven o" 1 clock. — Had a good night's rest; 
feel well this morning in body and soul. I have wanted much 
to sing your doxology, but fear to disturb Bishop Morris, who 
is sleeping. O that the Lord would come to our hearts to-day 
in glorious power!" 

" Detboit, September 22. — Conference was tedious to-day in 
some trials and appeals. I left at two o'clock. "Waited at the 
Depot till half past three P. M., and reached here at half past 



278 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



six P. M. Preached in the Second Church in the evening. 
Much fatigued. 

" Thursday, 23. — Bishop Morris arrived this evening. We 
conclude to return to Cincinnati by canal. Had a pleasant day. 
Not much of Christ. O for more of the presence of my adorable 

Redeemer ! 

" Friday, 24. — Canal-boat, near Toledo. Sailed over a rough 
lake last night to Toledo, a rough place. Started in Canal 
Packet at seven o'clock. Where shall we spend the Sabbath ? 
A question now of some interest. May Providence guide us ! 

" Defiance, September 25. — Landed here at eleven P. M., and 
puj up for the Sabbath, Bishop Morris at a private house, and 
I and my family at the tavern. Not very comfortable quarters. 

" Sunday, 26. — Bishop Morris preached at half past ten. I 
tried at three P. M. He had a good time. 

11 Monday, 27. — Canal-boat. We started again at eleven 
o'clock, and were not so crowded ; but we secured good berths 
at the junction where several passengers left. We should be 
thankful. Lord, enable us ! 

" Tuesday, 28. — We reached Piqua about twelve to-day, and 
saw some friends. It is a very pleasant place. Passed Troy 
about four o'clock. We have made a bad exchange of boats. 
A vile, card-playing, blasphemous company are along. 

" Cincinnati, September 29. — Reached Brother N. W. Thomas's 
in peace. Thanks be to God ! I have now been absent from 
Cincinnati since the 16th day of November, 1846, more than 
ten months. This is itinerating largely. I have enjoyed and 
suffered, have labored and been perplexed. What is before? 
May I accomplish as a hireling my day, and be received to 
rest everlasting ! 

"Friday, October 1. — Rest from toil. Home. I need rest. 
During my absence I have presided in the most difficult con- 
ferences. Stationed a large number of preachers, ordained 
many deacons and elders, sat up at night, felt great perplexities, 
and preached a great number of sermons. I need rest. 

"Cincinnati, 2. — The city is apportioned to two districts, 
East and West Cincinnati. There are ten English and three 
German preachers in the city, besides three presiding elders. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 



279 



Religion is low, very low, in most of the Churches. We need 
the Spirit poured out from on high. 

"Sunday, 3. — Preached in the evening at Christie Chapel. 
A beautiful church. It reminds us of a good, holy, gifted man. 
May the mantle of Christ fall on those who minister in this 
sanctuary ! 

" Monday, 4. — Very busy to-day in little arrangements for win- 
ter and its toils. I cannot afford to rest long. Why should I ? 
My Master calls me to many labors. I must be up and doing. 
The day of labor will pass away. 

" Tuesday, 5. — Busy, busy. Much news from the seat of war. 
One or two thousand Americans killed and wounded ! What 
scenes the battle-field must present ! But a nation is drunken 
with the triumphs of our arms. 

" Wednesday, 6. — I think much of going to Africa. Cannot 
give it up. I have written letters which will probably decide 
me. They say I will die. That I shall, whether I go or stay, at 
no distant day. Africa needs a visit from one of the Methodist 
bishops. 

" Wiilmington, Ind., Friday 8.— Reached here this evening 
on a lumber-wagon from the river, riding on the reach and a 
board, and holding my trunk. Found my friends well. 

" Saturday, 9. This is a beautiful hill. Seldom have I seen 
a more pleasant place for a comfortable residence than here. 
The county-seat was here. It is the more pleasant for its removal. 

" Aurora, Ind., Sunday 10. — Preached and held class in Wil- 
mington at eleven A. M., and preached here in the evening. 
A good day for these cold times. The class-meeting at Wil- 
mington exhausted me, there being some seventy present. But 
I asked help of the class-leaders and obtained it. It seems as 
though there were a little movement on the minds of the people 
here and at Wilmington. There is need enough J 

" Cincinnati, Tuesday, 12. — Reached here at eleven o'clock 
last night, and found my dear family and Brother Thomas' 
family well. This little trip was on the whole pleasant and 
profitable. O Lord, refresh my soul still more ! 

" Columbus, Ohio, Wednesday, 13. — Reached here at ten P. M. 
weary and sick. Thankful to have reached at all. The journey 



280 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



from Cincinnati here requires five hours in the cars and six in 
the stage. The last were painful, being crowded. 

* October 14.— Expected to be in Zanesville to-night, but was 
too unwell to proceed. Had to lie oyer one day. Spent it at 
Mr. M.'s tavern, very still, and resting much in bed. I long to 
be Christ-like in all circumstances. 

u Zahesville, October 15. — Reached Mr. Lippitt's at five 
o'clock. Brothers Dustin, Warnock, and Moorhead called dur- 
ing the evening, and also Brother Brush. May the Lord bless 
this place ! Here, just by, my dead lie buried ! 

" Zaxesville, October 16. — Was taken unexpectedly ill in 
the night with fearful distress (like dying) and faintness inde- 
scribable. Sent to town for medicine, and received all the 
attentions the family could bestow. 

"Monday, October 18. — A little relieved. What confusion of 
thought sickness makes! I scarcely think at all, or rather 
I have 1 broken fragments of scattered thought.' I desire to be 
ready to die before death comes. 

"Saturday, 23. — Have been sick through the week. Have 
walked out two or three times into the grove, but was the worse 
for it. Have thought 1 might die here and go into the tomb 
close by. Had several visits from dear Christian friends and en- 
joyed them. But 1 none but Jesus can do helpless sinners good.' 

" Sunday, October 24. — This is the second Sabbath I miss 
labor. It is of the Lord. I can do but little, and other men 
are here who can labor, I sincerely believe, to better profit than 
I can. If I go out again, Lord go with me ! 

" Monday, October 25. — Have been able to walk out to-day, 
and the tokens are of convalescence. By a careful diet, and 
watchful guarding against cold and damp, hope to improve. 
God is good, healing our diseases. 

u Sunday, October 31. — Preached this morning in Putnam at 
quarterly meeting. Had not been in the church for fourteen 
years. A good and attentive congregation. Not so much plain 
Methodism as twenty years ago. Is the fine gold changed? 
O Lord, thou knowest ! 

" Xenta, Saturday, November 6. — Reached here at six A. M., 
after riding all night and from twelve o'clock yesterday (noon.) 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 281 



Stood it quite as well as I could have hoped. Spent a pleasant 
day in rest. 

" Sunday, November 7. — Preached at eleven A. M. and seven 
P. M. A tolerable season. Trust some one may get good. 
Lord, arm thy word with power! Let the Spirit descend and 
water the seed ! Sanctify the people through thy truth ; thy 
word is truth ! 

" Monday, November 8. — Spent the morning at Mr. "Wright's, 
and in the evening came over to Brother Kerr's to spend the 
night and take the cars in the morning for Cincinnati. Went 
with Brother H. to general class. A very rainy evening ; few 
out, and a dull time. Brother H. is awake, and enjoys perfect 
love. He will do good. 

"Cincinnati, November 9. — Reached Brother Thomas's at 
eleven A. M., having left Xenia at six o'clock. Found all well 
here. Saw several friends through the day. Churches here in 
a promising state. All at work. Rev. J. Dillon has a revival 
in Maley Chapel charge. 

"Wilmington, Ind., November 11. — Reached here this even- 
ing at five o'clock to spend a few days. We hope for rest. I 
need retirement ; an opportunity to read, pray, write, meditate, 
get nearer to Christ. Lord, help me for Christ's sake ! Amen." 

" Cincinnati, November 12, 1847. 
"To Rev. F. G. Hibbard, — Having spent some time in 
hastily arranging affairs which, by neglect for months of absence, 
needed attention, I embrace the first reasonable opportunity to 
write to you. I trust the grace of God abounds in you, (as we 
know it does toward you and us all,) even until now, and that 
the holy comforts of our blessed religion sweeten life as it 
passes. As all the law is fulfilled in love, (to God and man,) so 
it is undoubtedly true all joy is fulfilled in it also. What a 
heaven is found in charity ! When it is said ' the greatest of 
these is charity,' it means not only as to utility, but as to peace 
or inward satisfaction, creating a heaven inwardly, and then 
diffusing a heaven (as far as mortals may) outwardly. For love 
does not profit abroad more than it jubilates at home, as the fire 
when kindled spreads from its center, the center of love being 



282 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



where Christ by bis Spirit touches and inflames the heart. 
Let us, my dear brother, experiment daily on this love. It is 
the best way to a sound theology and an infallible logic, to be 
deeply versed in the love of God and man. Let us run great 
lengths in it. and we shall find ourselves acquiring a real clair- 
voyance wherewith to look on God's word and providence, and 
gentle, unambitious study will come in easily and steadily to 
help us on. Our appetite for truth will be healthful, and study 
will be a heavenly meditation, and science will be sanitary, 
not hurtful to the soul. 

" This, I doubt not, you have proved, and daily experience, 
above my own partial and unskillful efforts. For though I 
seem to exhort, I include myself, feeling that few need just uses 
and profits of exhortation as much as I do. I am often like the 
domestic bird attempting to fly, having to struggle hard to 
gain a little way. O that, like the eagle, I might " mount up- 
ward ! n Sometimes God in mercy does bear me in a most 
comforting flight for some days, and indeed my pen should 
scarcely dwell on my own broken efforts to mention them at 
all, but rather on God's gracious aids and enablings which he 
in mercy ministers. Let us give glory to Him hour by hour. 
That we are all sin and shame and weakness, unable for any 
freedom, or honor, or soarings above the pit of our own fallen 
nature, are all a constant implication and concession, so we may 
drop it all and turn to praise God our Saviour. 

"I feel some of the power of faith, hope, and charity; not, 
however, in their jrienitude, as I desire and expect to feel them. 
I wait for all 1 the mind that was in Christ.' I am looking to 
c put on Christ ' more fully than I have yet experienced. I am 
looking for more ministerial power, so as to preach with the 
Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. I greatly long for an 
extended and expanded experience of the Christian life, or of 
the life of Christ in my soul. ' I want a sun, a sea of love.' 
Lift me up by your prayers now and then. The very God of 
peace sanctify us wholly, and preserve ' blameless.' O the 
blessedness of being made and preserved ' blameless ! ' And yet 
it is averred apostolically, 'Faithful is He that calleth you,' 
who also ' will do it.' 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 283 



" I have yet to speak of the atonement, doctrinally, exegeti- 
cally, and philosophically. When you start it I will see if I 
can say anything thus ; but I must advertise you that I have 
been trying to be a very poor philosopher, a fool in meta- 
physics, and was always so without trying, so you will not 
expect much. The Lord be pleased to make your labors both 
light and pleasant, ministering strength and wisdom as you 
need." 

" Sunday, 14. — Preached in Wilmington at eleven A. M. to 
the congregation, and at three to the children. Led the class ; 
had comfort. This would be a pleasant hill of Zion if all the 
people were taught of the Lord. Sin mars all. Lord, revive 
thy work ! 

" Monday, 15.— Spent this day in writing. Have my mind 
on Africa. Read some in Cox's Remains. He died like a hero. 
Nearly alone, in barbarous Africa, in a room where the rains 
made it look as though ' tubs of water had been poured on the 
floor,' in unutterable triumph, he breathed out his soul to God. 
Where are the thousands to ' fall,' like him, before Africa be 
given up ! Lord, supply them by thy Spirit ! 

" Wednesday, 17.— I am in trouble to find so many men 
willing to go to China, and so few to Africa. Ought not some 
of them to look after their motives ? A Chinese mission is 
more genteel, and has in it more of literary honor. 

" Thursday, 18. — Attended church this evening and heard a 
young brother preach, who seems to have much zeal, and a 
heart to do good. May the Lord bless these preachers and 
people, and pour salvation upon them ! 

" Friday, 19. — Some light and comfort, some conflicts and 
afflictions, to-day. My Jesus in mercy stooped down to me, and 
greatly revived me. Read some in 'Edwards on Revivals.' His 
wife's experience (I presume it is) is entire sanctification. 

" Saturday, 20. — Another week gone. May the approaching 
one be full of life, joy, and divine services ! Help me to pur- 
pose, Lord, to vow and to perform. 

M I would be thine, thou knowest I would, 
And have thee all my own." 



284 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"Aurora, Sunday, 21. — Preached in the morning at Wil- 
mington, and this evening here. Had a comfortable season 
through the day. I think a protracted meeting here would be 
likely to be attended with a glorious revival. People talk 
about religion in the streets. 

" Tuesday, 23. — Went up yesterday morning to Wilmington 
and came down with Mrs. Hamline in the P. M. Thought to 
go up the river this evening, but concluded to defer it and take 
a journey to Madison. 

" Wednesday, 24. — Fell to-day on the barber's steps, and sup- 
posed, at first, that the injury was by striking on the small of my 
back ; but my elbow struck heavily on the steps, and I found, 
in the afternoon, that my shoulder was injured. Delayed my 
journey. 

" Thursday, 25. — Left Aurora at three o'clock for Madison on 
the steamer Belle Madison. My shoulder is very much sprained, 
but what a mercy that no vital injury was inflicted. ' Praise 
God, from whom all blessings flow.' 

" Madison, Ind., Friday, 26. — Reached here in the night and 
landed and breakfasted with my dear Brother W. C. Smith, 
pastor of the Wesley charge ; then took lodgings at Brother 
Basnett's, an old soldier of the cross, a lovely Methodist Chris- 
tian family. Preached at night. Praise God ! 

" Saturday, 27. — Rev. A. Wiley preached at half past ten 
A. M. and at night. Good seasons. The Lord was present to 
bless. I felt great comfort in my soul. The Lord is in this 
place, but there are many adversaries. The Saviour's foes are 
often in his own household. 

" Sunday, 28. — Preached in the morning at Wesley Chapel, 
and at night in Third-street. Comfort while pleading with 
Christ. Endeavored to preach Christ to-day. Resolve to do 
so the little time I have to stay. Lord, give me patience, faith, 
love, and ministerial power. 

" Monday, 29. — Preached at three P. M. to the children from 
'the best robe.' Three hundred and fifty present, and good 
attention. At night, love-feast. A pleasant season to my soul, 
but none joined, and no great works wrought. Exhorted them, 
at the close, to keep the Discipline and attend class. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 285 



" Tuesday, 30. — Preached this evening in the German Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. House full. Germans yery attentive, 
but fear could not understand. Many Americans present. 
Took tea at Brother Kichey's, and had several prayers. This 
praying in company does not come so easy and natural as it 
did three years ago. I fear I am not so fully bent on suffering 
shame for Christ's sake as I have been. Lord, increase my 
faith greatly for Christ's sake ! 

"Mount Auburn, Cincinnati, December 2. — Reached here 
last evening, having left Madison on Wednesday evening. 
That precious man, Brother C. W. Basnett, came up with us. 
He is an Israelite indeed, and a lovely family and a lovely 
home for us. May our gracious God bless them ! 

" Sunday, 5. — Preached this morning in Wesley Chapel, and 
had great and unexpected peace, joy, and help. Souls seemed 
precious. I had not preached in this chapel for a year. A 
year ago to-day was in Allen-street, New York. 

" Monday, 6. — Think much about Africa. Am waiting for 
news from the Liberian packet. Now think, if it sails by the 
first of January, I shall go, especially if Brother Benham, the 
superintendent, returns in her. May the infinitely wise God 
direct me ! 

" Tuesday, 7. — Have stayed five days at M. Brooks's on 
Mount Auburn. Have found some aid and comfort. Spent 
to-day in town, and preached and administered the Lord's 
supper at Gassoway's (Barber) to a dozen persons, old Mrs. G., 
with a cancer, partaking. Lord, bless the effort ! " 

" CiHcrra-ATi, December 9, 1847. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — We greet you in the name of the 
Lord. May his richest blessings be upon you continually, and 
upon your whole household, through Jesus Christ. 

" We received the letter which stirred up our hearts toward 
the friends in Philadelphia, and made us wish to be more 
abundant in gratitude and prayers on their account. May the 
sanctified among them be always steadfast, unmovable, and 
abounding in the work of the Lord, not ignorant of Satan's 
devices, but steadfastly resisting. 



286 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Mrs. H. and myself are but in very moderate health, she 
being much afflicted with, colds and rheumatic affections, yet 
laboring and traveling nearly all the time, and by no means 
abating one whit of her zeal in the glorious cause. For myself 
I feel He puts strength in me, and helps me by his great power. 
Last Sabbath was a precious day indeed. ' I then rode on the 
sky.' In preaching at our great Wesley Chapel, the largest 
we have in America, and a place where I generally dread to 
preach, because it does not suit my feeble voice, I felt that 
the Holy Spirit 'gave me utterance,' and immediate fruit 
was gathered. 

" A few glorious revivals are breaking out around us. One, 
under the labors of Brother Sears, is attended with uncommon 
tokens of God's power to save. Nothing in this region has 
equaled it for some time. We have a strong hope that God is 
about to appear in his glory and build up Zion. The congre- 
gations are getting larger and more solemn, and it seems as 
though there was 1 a sound in the tops of the mulberry-trees.' 

how glorious it will be to see sinners flocking to Christ and 
saints cleansed and filled with the Spirit ! The Lord in mercy 
hasten it ! 

" Sarah, then, is 'joined to the Lord.' How did your hearts 
contain the gratitude and joy ? It would be most interesting 
to see her in the ' new robe,' and hear the 1 new song ' which is 
put into her mouth. May Israel's God guard and cherish the 
young branch and make it fruitful ! " 

" Friday, 10. — This has been a good day. My heart waxes 
warm Called on Sister Strobridge, whose pious husband 
went to rest two years ago last month. She is a good woman. 
This evening has been pleasant. Spent it in social conversa- 
tion and prayer. God was present. Under my dear wife's 
prayer, felt that God came down in power. O that I had her 
power with God, and could prevail as I feel she does ! Lord, 

1 thank thee for this gift ! 

" Montgomery, Sunday, 12. — Came here yesterday, the 
high floods preventing my visiting Newtown. Preached at 
eleven A. M. Two deacons (Myers and Stewart) were or- 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: FOURTH YEAR. 287 



dained. Heard an excellent sermon last evening from Brother 
H., and another to-night by Brother Ellsworth. Some discord 
among the brethren has prevented good from being done here. 
We must have peace or the Spirit is grieved. May he bless 
this people with a glorious revival ! 

Cincinnati, Tuesday, 14. — Returned last evening and found 
all well. The home of my friend Brother Brooks is a house of 
prayer. May the few days I now spend bring glory to God by 
the work of his grace here ! Amen ! 

" Wednesday, 15. — A great flood and snow storm. The river 
overflows nearly one third of the city, and public buildings are 
devoted to those who are driven from their homes. The Lord 
is at work. 

"Thursday, 16. — Waters still rising and snow falling. Great 
distress all along the river. The Lord is carrying on his work 
here. Brother B. is groaning for redemption from sin. Lord, 
appear for him ! The work is thine. A good day for my 
poor soul ! 

" Saturday, 18. — This has been a good day, Christ was 
with me. My heart burned all the day long with gratitude 
and love. I have occasion to praise, and especially should I 
be thankful for a heart to praise, for that too is God's own gift. 
May I improve it aright. 

" Sunday, 19. — Preached this morning in Ninth-street. 
Rather a cold time of it. The people seemed cold. I desire, 
however, to record God's goodness in permitting me to preach 
at all. I tried to declare the truth and think of nothing but to 
trust all to God. 

" Monday, 20. — This has been a glorious day. Christ was 
with me all the day long. Why yesterday was so barren I 
know not. Had grace for comfort abounded yesterday as 
to-day, it seems to me, I could have preached ' Thy will be 
done.' 

"Wednesday, 22. — Give up going to Africa. So I am per- 
suaded it is the will of God. The packet cannot sail by 
January 1, and I dare not start later than that. I had 
begun to get my heart set on going, but now I expect never 
to see Africa. This evening, in conversation and prayer 



288 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



with the family and my dear wife, I had some new views 
of faith, and urging them helped me, if not others. One 
thing suggested was, that our thoughts and words must 
flow in the channel of faith, or we resist the Spirit who 
would work by faith. "We must not think or say, 'I dare 
not, 1 but ' Lord, I believe.' 

" Friday, 24. — Left Brother Brooks's to-day. God has blessed 
us and the family, thanks to his holy and blessed name. 
The Lord he is God. I have felt his presence here in a very 
unusual manner, and bless him for his goodness to me and 
mine. 

" Salem, Saturday, 25. — Came out to-day with Brother Sears 
to spend a few days with the people at Salem. Preached at 
eleven o'clock to a small congregation. A very pleasant hour. 
Brother Calhoun labored at night. 

" Sunday, 26. — Preached at eleven. A moderate congrega- 
tion. Brother Sears at night. We want power. There is 
great backsliding among us. We want faith, zeal, spiritual 
life-crucifixion to the world. We want discipline. 

"Monday, 27. — This morning preached and administered 
baptism and the Lord's supper. Yery small congregation, but a 
comfortable time. Christ was precious. This evening Brother 
Sears preached an excellent sermon to a few, and meeting 
closed. Better success than Jesus often had. 

"Cincinnati, Tuesday, 28. — Came from Salem early, and 
reached Cincinnati at ten A. M. Thanks be to God ! My 
faith is strong, comparatively. At Brother Simpson's. This 
is a family of prayer. The children learn to sing hymns (not 
songs) with the piano. 

" Wednesday, 29. — Visited Brother Brooks to-day with my 
dear wife. Found Mrs. Sears quite ill. Prayed with her. 
She is a child of God, and much devoted, but a trembling 
soul. She may be about to die ; if so, she will leave few sin- 
cerer Christians behind her. 

" Thursday, 30. — Left Cincinnati at one o'clock for Madison, 
and thence to Lexington, in Scott county, to dedicate a church. 
Have kept my state-room and read and prayed, and am kept in 
peace through Jesus Christ. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FOURTH YEAR. 289 



" Lexington, Ind., Friday, 31. — Came to-day from Madison 
much jolted and weary, with aching bones, but faith in 
Christ. Put up with Judge White. Did not go to meeting 
to-night. Felt too wayworn to venture out. The year 
closes. Adieu ! How many will not see the close of another. 
Perhaps myself among them. 

1 1 Prepare me, Lord, for thy right hand, 
Then come the joyful day. 

" May I go on understanding and remembering, 1 This is the 
victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.' " 

13 



290 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
episcopal labor: fifth year. 

h Lexington, January 1, 1848. — The new year has come. Here 
I am with a new history commencing. I cannot but strongly 
hope it will be the best year of my life. I cry unto thee, my 
God, and implore great grace for its duties and conflicts. I feel 
that I have more faith — that faith which is ' of the operation of 
God,' and stands in the power of God — than ever I had before. 
I think, unless my heart deceives me, that God has wrought a 
strong faith in me within three weeks. And as it seems to me 
that he is the ' author ' of it, he will also be the supporter and 
the finisher of it. Looking back on the past year, what cause 
have I for humiliation, for penitence, for mourning. But the 
' bridegroom' comes to my soul. I rejoice ! 

" The last three weeks before Thursday, December 24, were 
spent at the house of M. Brooks, Esq. It was a rest season, as I 
supposed, preparatory to visiting Liberia, as I had determined 
to take the voyage if the packet sailed by January 1, as she 
was advertised. 

"Here we had daily family prayer-meetings. Mr. Brooks 
was stirred up, chiefly by the instrumentality of Mrs. H., (whose 
faith often rebukes my unbelief,) to seek more of God. On the 
evening of Wednesday, December 23, in a conversation with 
the family, and more especially with Brother Brooks, I was led 
for his sake to speak of faith, a theme most frequently and 
earnestly dwelt upon among us. 

" I did not feel prepared to tmch the way of faith, yet was 
bound to speak as well as I could. I urged faith on my friend, 
and among other things said, (what then first occurred to my- 
self:) 'Do you not think, Brother B., that we should as an 
intellectual effort place our minds in a position to favor the 
work of the Spirit in producing faith in us ? We all agree that 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : FIFTH YEAR. 291 



faith is the gift of God. But, though his Spirit works faith in 
the believer, may we not grieve or resist the Spirit on one hand, 
and on the other hand invite and encourage him, in his efforts 
to produce faith ? Suppose, for instance, while the effort of the 
Spirit is to work or operate faith, I say, " I wish to believe, but 
cannot " I dare not believe ;" " I have no faith " It is im- 
possible for me to believe ;" and so on. Do I not directly resist 
the motions of the Spirit by counter-motions of my own mind ? 
Surely the movements of the Spirit are in one direction, that is, 
toward faith ; while the motion of my mind is in an opposite 
direction, that is, against faith. The Spirit would move me to 
a state in which I shall say, " I will believe ;" " I do believe ;" 
" I dare believe ;" while I allow my mind to carry me to the 
point, " I do not believe ;" " I cannot ;" " I dare not believe." 
Will not this grieve the Spirit ? 

" ' Ought we not to encourage and work with the Spirit by 
saying, "Lord, I believe; help thou my unbelief?" Is not this 
effort of ours to move in our thoughts in the very direction 
which the Spirit takes, fulfilling the apostolic direction, " Work 
out your own salvation with fear and trembling," knowing 
" that it is God that worketh in us ? " ' 

"While speaking on this wise to my brother, uttering 
thoughts that were new to myself, I felt the subject of faith, 
and the way to it, open to my mind with unusual beauty, 
and a gentle peace of sweet and healing trust in Christ sprung 
up in my soul. It seemed rather to increase, yet slowly and 
almost imperceptibly, through the remainder of the evening. I 
began immediately to do what I had endeavored to point out 
so important a reason for doing, and it seemed to me, though I 
had done it a thousand times, that to say any more, 'I cannot 
believe,' ' I dare not believe,' would be one of the most profane 
and aggravated offenses I could commit against God. Such an 
offense, that if I would treat the word of any, the most untrusty 
mortal on earth, as such language treats the word of God, he 
would challenge me, or would fall upon me in violence of his 
rage to be revenged. On the other hand it seemed to me that 
to determine to believe and say, ' I will, I do believe,' conferred 
the greatest honor on God and his word that any poor creature 



292 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



like man can confer (if any) on Ms Maker and Redeemer. For 
several days, and up to this date, January 1, 1848, 1 have been 
kept in a very unusual manner, much of the time dwelling on 
faith in my thoughts, and having presented to me arguments in 
favor of faith which never seemed of such effectual force as they 
now do. I have not had a state of continual rapture, but I 
have enjoyed, if I mistake not, continual peace, and a sense of 
the value and virtue of faith which I never enjoyed before." 

"Lexington, Lnd., January 1, 1848. 

" To Mks. H., — This is the first time I have dated a letter 
within the new year. And now my heart glows with gratitude 
to God my Maker and Saviour, and to the instruments of Prov- 
idence and grace in my behalf; and as to these instruments, 
most of all toward you, my own beloved wife. I am this morn- 
ing filled with rapturous surprise to see how the Lord has dealt 
with me and with us. It is now 1848. O to look back to 
1836, when the Lord first gave you to me to help me to draw 
near to Christ, and to review, step by step, the way in which 
he has brought me, the deliverances wrought, in every one of 
which he has made you the means and his co-worker ! It over- 
whelms me with grateful surprise. May I never forget ! 

" I hope to spend this year as I never have spent one. I am 
about to offer and record my vows. I want them sealed on 
earth, and sealed in heaven. I wish to vow to be His who hath 
called me, and then wish severally to vow that His strength 
shall make and keep me His. How important is this last ! How 
easily overlooked or forgotten ! How vain are all covenants 
that do not embrace it ! How rich in fruits and joys such 
humble, sweet dependence on the God of everlasting strength 
and love ! Lord, I am thus thine this morning and forever ; 
thine in thine own grace and might, by which, and in which, I 
yield myself thine forever. 

" There is a charm to my hopes in 1848. I trust it will be 
notable as to my own experience. I feel as though I were start- 
ing anew to run the race set before me. It seems to me I am 
anointed for the race, and have revealed in new lights the 
inviting goal. I think how short the race is, and that this year 



EPISCOPAL LABOR : FIFTH YEAR. 293 



may close its struggles. If not, it may see me new-winged for 
it, so that I shall 'rejoice as a strong man' to run this race. I 
feel content to run on ; content to finish, and take from bleed- 
ing love the crown which none but a hand pierced and wound- 
ed with the love and pity, it bears me would or could ever place 
on my unworthy brow. O to think of this ! A crown of love, 
not of thorns, on such a sinner's brow ! Let my thoughts and 
emotions hang on that wonder, and expatiate on it forever. 
How can it be believed ! yet it is fully and forever believed. 
The greater the wonder the more closely does faith embrace it, 
and the more sweetly does the heart feast upon it. Such a 
crown, on such a brow, by such a hand, with such deep, gory 
wounds inflicted by the very wretch thus crowned, and thus 
taken into the fellowship and love of that wounded, bleeding 
One! 

" ' Herein is love ! ' ' O the depths of the riches ! ' Shall we 
dare to doubt ? Shall we question the love which has gone 
such lengths for us ? That were a double cruelty ; that were 
killing Christ over again ; that were to slay the murdered. O, 
blessed God, save us from this crowning act of sanguinary sin, 
to doubt the love which bleeds for us, the promise made with 
dying lips, the covenant sealed with death pangs ! We doubt 
thee not, blessed Jesus ! Thou art all mine. I am all thine. 
Thou art mine and I am thine for ever and ever. Amen ! 

" I did not think to run on in these growing and inex}3ressi- 
ble beatitudes, for I know not what else to call them. But the 
theme swells like growing waters in my soul. No wonder, for 
* O Lord, I will praise thee,' because, though thou wast angry 
with me, yet thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest 
me. No wonder ; for his name of whom I write shall be called 
Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. No wonder . 
for I write of him who ' sprinkles clean water upon us,' and we 
are ' clean.' No wonder that what throws heaven into ecstacy, 
and moves the palms, and swells the anthems of its 1 great mul- 
titudes, which no man can number,' should move poor worms 
on earth, who are permitted, as we are, to look into the verge 
of the overpowering radiance. No wonder that a sight of Jesus 
should set our heart3 and pens on fire, since it provokes songs 



294 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



in glory which sound away on earth like the ' sound of many- 
waters.' No wonder that a faith which embraces and makes 
f substance ' all the hopes of enjoying a part in this concert of a 
holy, sanctified universe, should fill us with joy, even till the soul 
exclaims, 'I am sick;' I am faint with the pure, eternal, over- 
flowing delights which press on all my inward being and bear 
me on to God 

" But I return. It is the new year. I wish you, love, 1 a happy 
year ;' happy above all the power of time or of the world to 
grant ; above all that creatures can furnish or conceive. Happy 
in the love of Christ and the hope of heaven. Pray much, 
believe constantly, and be sanctified wholly through Jesus 
Christ." 

" Lexington, Ixd., January 1, 1843. — Reached here last night 
with Brother Morgan, sheriff of county, who brought me through 
mud eighteen miles from Madison. Put up with J. A'. White, 
judge of county court, and a good man I believe. Preached 
this morning at eleven o'clock. 

"Sabbath, 2. — Had a good, I might say glorious, day. 
Preached the dedicatory sermon at eleven A. M. Bad as the 
going was, a respectable congregation, a good church, about 
forty by fifty, and between five and six hundred dollars sub- 
scribed. Ordained two deacons. A good sermon at evening 
by Rev. G. Ames. Several mourners. The Lord is here. My 
faith is strong. 

" Tuesday, 4. — Yesterday was not so good a day. Brethren 
called, and I had not enough retirement. Preached in weak- 
ness last evening. To-day my soul mounts. My heart is near 
to bursting this morning. The fire burns ! burns ! ! What 
flames of love ! How can I contain it ? Blessed Jesus, thou 
knowest how I love thee, how I trust in thee ! Much as thou 
givest me of thyself, I want still more of thee. Still 

1 1 thirst for a life-giving God, 
A God that on Calvarv died !' 

Hope whispers, ' I shall have enough of thee, blessed Lord, by 
and by, for the 'mansions' are being prepared. Let me honor 
thee here, and then go home. Amen ! 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 295 



11 At night — I have had great peace up to this hour. This 
morning, long before breakfast, I had delightful communion 
with God, and the word was very sweet to my taste. My 
4 peace ' is ' like a river.' My faith never seemed so strong. I 
am going to school to Christ, and he is teaching me much about 
faith which I never before learned. Never did the words ' Lord, 
I will believe' exert such an influence on me as now. Jesus, 
blessed Lord, let me not forget to ascribe this to thee, to thy 
teaching, and to the power of the Holy Ghost, who enables me 
to be taught. Should I forget my dependence, I expect to lose 
(at least for a season) all my power, and be left dark and 
barren. 

" Madison, January 8. — Reached Brother Smith's in company 
with one state senator, (an infidel,) one Methodist, and one 
Presbyterian. Rough journey. Attended class-meeting and 
met eight or ten sisters. One professed perfect love. Had a 
delightful season. 

" Cincinnati, January 9. — Reached Brother Brooks's at eight 
o'clock A. M. Have had a pleasant journey. Have enjoyed 
much of God's presence. God has been with me. 

'His presence makes my paradise, 
And where he is, is heaven.' 

" Monday, 10. — Yesterday preached in Morris Chapel. God 
was with me. Christ gave me precious consolations while ad- 
dressing the dear people. Preached on purity of heart. A 
glorious theme ! I have some hope that the Church was bene- 
fited. Some precious souls, in whom the salt has not lost its 
savor, were surely blessed. What a field is Morris Chapel to 
those who should feel inclined to build up a Church in holiness ! 
I know none like it except Christie Chapel, which is nearly of 
the same spirit, and has about the same number of sanctified 
souls. Thanks be to God for the comforts of such a Sabbath as 
yesterday was. Amen ! 

" Tuesday, 11. — Yesterday and to-day some dullness. Faith 
tried. Its trial is said to be ' precious.' May it be so to me. 
I doubt not it will be if I permit God to carry out his gracious 
purposes toward me. my gracious Redeemer, forbid that I 
hinder thee ! 



296 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Thursday, 20. — Christ Jesus suddenly came to Ms temple 
and filled me with faith, love, and joy. Preached to-night at 
Wesley Chapel. Had a glorious time, and some twenty mourn- 
ers were at the altar. Several were converted. God is at work 
truly. 

" Saturday, 22. — Came yesterday to Xenia. Quite unwell by 
the way, but had rest last night and feel better to-day. The 
Lord has shown me favor. May I use thy grace, O God, as 
thou givest and wilt give ! Teach me neither to trust in self, 
nor to distrust thee. Thou hast promised and will perform. 
I am thine. In myself nought but sin, shame, misery, and 
death. But I have all in thee. 

' More than all in thee I find.' 

Prepare me to do and to suffer for thee, and may I glorify thee 
in this frail body and immortal spirit this day. 

" South Charleston, Ohio, January 23. — Preached the ded- 
ication sermon at eleven A. M. Tried to preach Christ crucified. 
Blessed be God ! he was not far from me. Felt an even placid 
joy, and was held up by the gentle hand of Christ. Here, 
where twenty years ago life civilized began to be, is a beautiful 
church edifice, forty-four by sixty-two, of brick, with spacious 
basement, lecture-room and class-rooms, and some seven hund- 
red were crowded into it to-day. It will seat comfortably more 
than four hundred. O now may the showers of grace fall upon 
the people ! Lord, revive thy work ! Sanctify thy disciples, 
and may sinners be converted unto thee. As for me I shall 
behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisfied when I 
awake in thy likeness. 

" Tuesday, 25. — O thou blessed Saviour ! with what ardors 
does my soul pursue thee, with what joy embrace thee ? Whom 
have I in heaven but thee ? Thou art my great High Priest, 
and art touched with a feeling of my infirmities. Glorious 
truth ! How has it this day taken hold of the very foundations 
of my being, to read it in thy holy word. Well does my soul 
prove this day ' that the word of God is quick and powerful, 
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.' In 
reading the first four chapters of the Hebrews, familiar as they 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 



297 



were to me, worlds of light seemed to open to my understand- 
ing, and scarcely could my being endure the power which 
visited me, while reading those wonderful revelations of God's 
mercy. ' Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good 
will toward men.' Amen and amen ! " 

" Xenia, January 26„ 1848. 

"To Mrs. H., — Grace, mercy, and peace are with us, and 
gospel benedictions rest upon us both. God has provided for 
us. You can meditate, write, pray, commune with God's dear 
people, and have the Word, Spirit, and sanctuary, without 
leaving the dwelling. Thanks be to his holy name ? 

"A revival has commenced in Charleston. One was con- 
verted every evening during my stay, after the dedication. One 
on Sabbath, one on Monday, and one on Tuesday eve. I labored 
too hard. Preaching, exhorting, and talking to the Church 
and mourners, and came down to-day in a buggy, refreshed by 
the ride, but worse for wear. I am in perfect health except 
exhaustion. You need have no concern, for if I am unwell I 
am on the railroad, and you can soon reach me. I am not sorry 
you did not come, and think you ought often to let me take 
my little journeys alone, when Providence opens the way by 
giving you a home so comfortable and so profitable to the soul. 
You are feeble, and should not forget it. 

" I have enjoyed much, very much of the presence of Christ. 
Peace, peace ! Since yesterday morning I have been rather too 
much fatigued to feel a lively joy, but can trust, and do trust. 
I hear that fifty mourners are at the altar in Brother Inskip's 
charge, Dayton, and a work is breaking out in Lebanon; a 
revival in Bellbrook, a wonderful time in Springfield." 

"Xenia, Thursday, 27. — Left South Charleston yesterday 
morning in an open buggy, and came comfortably (a little rain) 
to Xenia. Put up with Brother Nisbet. A good work has com- 
menced in South Charleston, and my heart rejoices in it. Here 
the revival is glorious. Was not able to go out last night, but 
this morning attended prayer-meeting. I have great peace, 
peace which passeth all understanding. My heart is kept ; yet 
I 4 lack wisdom ' — wisdom, I mean, to discern what a state of 



298 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



grace mine is ; what to say to others, and how to run swiftly 
and make a rapid growth in the knowledge and love of God. 
But ' the Lord hath done great things for us.' I am his who 
bought me with a price." 

" To Mrs. H., — I tried to preach last night to a large congre- 
gation, but being pretty well worn out it was rather hard work ; 
yet the j>eople were attentive, and some twenty-five were at the 
altar ; among them a young son of Brother C, eighteen years 
old. I left, after two or three prayers, and came over to Mr. 
Wright's, where I rested well, and, but for now and then a little 
shade of loneliness, should feel very comfortable. I have 
thoughts of spending a day or two here on my return from the 
Springs, and then going over to Bellbrook, nine miles, and 
preaching some night, (they have a revival there and a great 
waking up on the subject of perfect love,) and returning to 
Cincinnati the latter part of the week. They will take me over 
in a carriage, if I consent to go. Perhaps if I could go there 
and prolong my labors to some two weeks, it would then 
be reasonable for me to stay and rest the remainder of the 
month. It will of course be a trial for me to stay, but I am 
here in the midst of revivals and should do all I can. The 
preachers are all worn out and need help. I can preach once 
for Brother Kerr on Tuesday night, for Brother Routledge at 
Bellbrook on Thursday night, and then come home. 

"Patience, my dear M. I do not know which of us most 
laments separation. I certainly, if the benefits of being together 
admeasure our regrets. But I dare not hurry home to cure this 
evil while the cross is before me with its agonizing victims. 
I suppose few husbands and wives live together with whom 
prayer and religion are more habitual day by day, and this 
makes separation the more to be dreaded, yet better prepares us 
for it. My peace has been almost uninterrupted since I left 
you. Last night, though I could not preach much, I was ex- 
ceeedingly blessed in conversing with mourners at the altar. 
I had such a view of the truth that Christ died for sinners, died 
for me, and for the mourners, as I cannot express. It seemed 
almost to dissolve my being. I have given up my dedication 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: FIFTH YEAR. 299 



sermons. At Charleston I preached the ' nature of angels,' and 
at the Springs am intending to use ' By the mercies of God.' 
Pray for me, that God's word may have free course and be 
glorified. 

" I am concerned for our beloved Angeline. May God raise 
her up to work for him. I should feel it a loss to us were she 
to be taken away. A friend tried is precious. Maybe God will 
hear prayer for her. Tell Angeline to trust with a faith as 
strong as the promise, and tell her to pray for us. May the God 
of Abraham be her and our God ! I commit you to his gracious 
care and love. 

" ' Give to the winds thy fears, 

Hope and be undismayed ; 
God hears our sighs and counts our tears ; 

God shall lift up our head.' " 

" January 27, 1847. 
" My deak Son, — Your father implores the blessing of God 
upon you, the Holy Spirit to draw you to the blessed Redeemer. 
It is a fearful thing to be on a stormy ocean, without a pilot, 
compass, or anchor, amid breakers on a leeshore, shrouded in 
darkness, and reckless of all the terror of the scene ; but I will 
trust in God that my beloved son will, in the midst of all, invoke 
the God of his Fathers, and have Christ with him in the midst 
of the tempest. Your grandparents, four of them, have left 
behind them a bright track to glory. Your dear mother, full 
of triumphs, with her dying hand resting on your infant head, 
has gone to heaven, and dwells with the pure and the blessed. 
Your surviving family are striving for the goodly land, and 
striving also to take you with them. This is all we can do. 
We feel that we shall soon be there. We would be glad to 
leave our only child, if he survives us, following on. The Lord 
bless and save him ! " 

"Beloved Son, — Yours has just arrived, announcing such 
news as we have been longing to hear, but dared not hope for. 
I break the seal to add this line. You may be sure, my beloved 
son, that we shall pray for God's preserving grace to enrich, 
comfort, and keep you. One thing let me entreat of you. In- 



800 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



stantly give up forever all irreligious companions. In this lies 
your danger. O if you will, in the language of Solomon, ' for- 
sake the foolish' you will 'live.' Again, watch your temper 
and check the first risings of it. Keep to your closet and sanc- 
tuary. You know, my dear L., we shall be pleased to hear 
from you. Cleave to the Saviour. ' Be thou faithful until death,' 
for religion will make you holy, sober, careful, charitable, and 
all good things. Your mother joins me in love and in prayers 
for your salvation, temporally and eternally." 

" Yellow Springs, January 30. — Jesus visited me with his 
Spirit this morning in a very unusual and unexpected manner. 
I seemed less devout than usual for a day or two, and had less 
reason than usual (I thought) for a good and profitable Sabbath. 
But O the riches of his grace and mercy toward us ! I rose 
early, and as soon as I kneeled before him floods of salvation 
came pouring into my heart. I scarcely ever felt the blood 
applied in so glorious and efficacious a manner. I did not cry, 
1 It is enough ! ' nor say, ' Stay thy hand ! ' I felt more like cry- 
ing out, e One drop more, and let the vessel break, and let my 
ransomed soul ascend 

' To beheld my Love and my Lord !' 

But I kept silence, or sobbed amid abundance of tears and joys. 
Joyful penitence was a prominent feature of this visit of my 
Lord. Glory be to God for ever and ever ! " 

" Yellow Spbin-gs, January 30, 1848. 
"To Mrs. H., — I came up yesterday with Brother Elliott. 
Heard from you at class on Wednesday. If I am not at home 
on Monday, please take the cars Tuesday morning and meet 
me at Lebanon Road, where I will be waiting for you and go 
with you to Lebanon, where there is a revival commencing. 
Brother Brodie (who has joined) sent me word to come and 
many others ; and as we shall want to visit the Grove, this will 
be a good opportunity. I feel blessed, blessed, blessed ! God 
is pouring out his Spirit wonderfully. It is easy preaching. 
My health is good ; some weary. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 301 



" If I thought you well enough to come up, I would not hesi- 
tate to stay. Yet I may be there before this letter. If so, I shall 
leave on Thursday and spend a week more abroad, and then 
rest three weeks. I pray God to bless you and all the family 1 
My love to each one. Tell Brother Sears I would be glad to be 
with him, but the preachers seem all worn out here, and need 
help much." 

" Cincinnati, February 1. — Returned yesterday to spend two 
or three days and then start again. Found the work still going 
on in this [Mr. Brooks's] family. My joy has not been so great 
for twenty-four hours, ' but I will trust and not be afraid.' 

Lebanon, Wednesday, 2. — Came yesterday unexpectedly, and 
preached here this evening. Signs of a revival. A good 
evening. 

" Centerville, Ohio, Sunday, 6. — On Thursday rode twenty 
miles from Lebanon to Bellbrook, and preached in the evening 
to a large assembly. On Friday rode back to Lebanon and 
preached in the evening. Went to the church with a full heart, 
and thought to preach with great power. Was disappointed. 
I find that I do not always preach best for the people when 
I feel best. Scarcely ever did. I go into the pulpit with more 
feeling, and preach with less power. Saturday I rode to this 
place and put up with Brother Campbell, one mile south of 
town. Was feeble and did not go out till this morning at love- 
feast, which was a dull time to me. I gave no testimony. Was 
much tried. Felt as though I could not preach. I remembered 
how I felt and poorly preached on Friday evening. Now, 
I thought, maybe God will enable me to preach, poorly as my 
heart seems prepared for it. But said I to myself, What shall 
I preach ? Surely not on perfect love, as you now feel ! Yes, 
my heart replied ; take that very theme, for the people here are 
groaning for the blessing, as their talk in love-feast testifies. 
On determining to do so a little light sprung up. Yet I went 
into the pulpit under heavy trials, took perfect love for my 
theme, the clouds vanished, and seldom have I enjoyed a better 
season in the pulpit. The lesson taught me is, ' Never trust to 
frames, but preach, depending on God for the increase.' " 



802 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



"Lebanon, February 5, 1848. 
" To Mrs. H.,— Believing from the state of the weather that 
you will not come up to-day, I write a line that you may learn 
on Monday how I am. Last night I had an overwhelming visit 
from God — from the Comforter. Never did I feel more of the 
dissolving power of grace. I was able to plead with God for 
poor dying sinners. Thanks to his holy and blessed Name ! * 

" Olive Branch, Sunday r , 13. — Came here yesterday in the 
omnibus and put up with Brother Robinson. Preached this 
morning to a large congregation. To-night Brother Sears has 
preached to a houseful, and the power of God was among the 
people. Three or four converted. There is the promise of a 
glorious revival. 

" Tuesday morning, preached, and soon start for home. Several 
have joined. I have tried to make peace here, but have failed. 

"Cincinnati, Thursday, 17. — Preached last evening at As- 
bury. A good congregation. Fifteen mourners at the altar. 
Had great and peculiar trials to-day. Solemn reflections about 
the heinousness of sin. From yesterday morning have seen sin, 
my own, in a wonderful light. But for a most determined faith 
in Christ, which brought great peace, what would have become 
of me ! 

" Monday, 21. — Yesterday morning labored at ' Bethel.' A 
precious season. At night ordained W. W. M'Dermot at ' Mor- 
ris,' and rode home. I have had the rest of faith for four days 
in a remarkable degree. Never did I see more clearly that 
Christ must be my all of help and hope and joy. 

" Thursday, 24. — Rose at five o'clock, and have spent half an 
hour on my knees. Have peace. Am trying to prepare a ser- 
mon for publication, and find it not easy to turn from travel and 
miscellaneous duties to the pen. Mr. Wesley's great strength 
(given him of God) is not seen by those who read his works, 
but lose sight of his circumstances. Amazing man ! traveling 
and often preaching three times a day, lodging in all manner of 
ways, and mixing with old, young, and children in a very unre- 
tired manner, yet writing works that will render him immortal I 
God gave him to the Church and taught him to fight. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 303 



"Sunday, 27. — Preached and administered sacrament this 
morning at Race-street German Methodist Church. A full 
house ; two hundred communicants, and much feeling among 
the members. 

" Sunday, March 5. — Preached in the morning at Ninth- 
street on Prayer. Had a precious season. The last week was 
full of peace. To-day I have fed on green pastures. 

"Wednesday, 8.— Am nearly through with my sermon on 
Rom. x, 10, written for Brother Miller's book, ' Experience of 
German Preachers.' I pray God's blessing on my feeble efforts. 
I write with great labor and difficulty, on account of a ten- 
dency to paralysis. Have been, by turns, three weeks writing 
this short sermon. Have had other writing to do. Have 
joined Bishop Morris in recommending a General Conference 
fast if the other bishops agree. 

" Sunday, 12. — Preached to-day at Christie Chapel. A large 
congregation and a pleasant season. Trust the Lord was with 
me. Administered sacrament in the morning at Salem Chapel. 

" Cincinnati, March 13, 1848. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — The news received in telegraphic 
hints before, came confirmed to us this morning by your letters 
of the twenty-eighth ultimo and the second instant. As the 
telegraphic notice was dated at Baltimore, we were left under 
the impression that L. was on his way westward, and therefore 
did not write, as we expected him daily. The Lord has inter- 
posed in a wonderful manner, which so transcends all the 
gratitude we can either feel or express, that we are almost 
ashamed to mention gratitude. It is very desirable, sometimes, 
to have ardors and powers of expression which do not belong 
to poor mortals. 

" That God should have brought our dear son to you, who 
were the means, one year ago, of snatching him from the tomb, 
and make you and that dear Brother G. the instruments of the 
rescue of his soul, is well calculated to stir up all the gratitude 
of our hearts toward the Author and the instruments. We 
must strive to give to both the One and the other a due share 
of grateful regard ; but we shall only strive, so far especially as 



304 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



God may claim at our hands. We feel much solicitude lest L. 
may give you undue anxiety. We think it most probable he 
may have received letters which induced him to start for the 
West, but if not, we think he had better start for Wheeling on 
the receipt of this. If the weather were more comfortable, and 
the mountain passage less difficult at this season of the year, I 
would come on with Mrs. H., pay you a few days' visit, and 
spend the time until the General Conference in Western New 
York; but the way over the mountains at this time is difficult 
and Mrs. H. is unusually feeble, quite too much so for such a 
journey. 

" We wish much that Sister Palmer could visit the West. If 
she should be able, nothing could gratify us more. If, how- 
ever, she is doubtful about her ability or health, or if it is 
inconvenient, we do not wish her to come on L.'s account. He 
is old enough to travel alone, and we will trust him to God. 

"If Brother Gorham is with you, give my best love and 
thanks to him." 

" Lebanon, Ohio, Wednesday, 15. — Spent two days at 
Brother Bro die's. Here the Church is rent. God will heal it. 

"Xenia, Friday, 17. — Reached Mr. Wright's, having preached 
in Lebanon last evening with comfort. Am hurried along, and 
writing every moment when I stop. 

" Columbus, Sunday, 19. — Spent Sabbath here and preached 
yesterday. Quarterly meeting. Was quite unwell, and could 
not preach in the evening. Love-feast to-night. So weary and 
exhausted by writing that I could not much enjoy it, yet was 
comforted. I have a pleasant visit with Brother C. Brooks, 
and hope to see him very faithful in confessing and inculcating 
perfect love. He enjoys and lives it, I believe. Thanks be to 
God ! I hunger and thirst after more of Christ. Lord, give 
me thyself. Help me to be all life and power, all love and 
praise, all diligence and patience. Enemies! What could I 
do without them ? 

"Zanesville, Wednesday, 22. — This day six years Mrs. H. 
started from Cincinnati to Hillsdale. Then I struggled after 
God. It was to me a year of years. O thou, my blessed Jesus, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 305 



keep me every moment, and draw me nearer and still nearer to 
thee ! I tried to preach this evening in the Seventh-street 
Church to a good and an attentive congregation. Have 
finished my sermon on confessing and believing. It is now 
hard work to write. My pectoral difficulty, whatever it is, is 
wonderfully aggravated by it. 

" Saturday, 25. — Preached at two P. M. in Third-street 
Church, it being quarterly meeting. A good season. Small 
congregation. 

" Sunday, 26. — Preached this morning in Third-street Church. 
Feeble health. O, my blessed Saviour, how can a worm speak 
without thee ! How chilly, like the waters of death, when God 
is not with me, to stand up as a minister of Jesus. My disease, 
whether of the heart, or what, is serious, and this morning dis- 
armed me of all power. I feel almost unable to kneel in closet 
prayer, from suffocation; but I will 'cleave' and trust, drag 
myself when I cannot fly after Christ. Mine is an unworthy 
ministry ; but I am called to preach God's word, and may he 
pity and aid me. Lord, I am confounded before thee, but still 
will trust. Amen. 

"Rushville, Ohio, Thursday, 30.— Spent the last twenty- 
four hours with the pious family of that departed saint, Henry 
S. Fernandis. I was his colleague in 1832-3 on Greenville 
circuit. He taught and helped me. What a man ! Christian ! 
minister ! He loved God with all his heart. Three years ago 
I met with him here on his deathbed. What a dying saint he 
was ! How full, how holy were his triumphs ! O 4 may my 
last end be like his ! ' His family walk in his footsteps. They 
will honor the memory of the sainted husband and father, and 
the Church and the God whom he served." 

"Lakcasteb, Ohio, April 1, 1848. 
" To Rev. William Reddy, — I was glad to hear from you, 
and learn that the Lord is reviving his work in your part of 
the country. The work of holiness is spreading in the West, 
and there have been some notable cases of God's ministers 
receiving it, who had been, until recently, opposed to the doc- 
trine, and ' mad ' at its advocates. A great revival is spreading 



306 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



through the "West in connection with the faithful preaching of 
this doctrine. The Church is rising, and where everything 
was gloomy and unpromising, there is now the freshness of 
opening spring. One presiding elder writes me, that more than 
two thousand backsliders have been reclaimed on his district 
the last winter. He thinks backsliding had become universal, 
and went around the district preaching about little else. A 
wonderful waking up succeeded, and the revival following 
exceeds almost all I have heard of since that of Pentecost. 

" I rejoice in your personal and family blessings. It is im- 
portant, indeed, that the presiding elder and his family be 
'examples to the flock,' to the preachers and to the people. 
A remarkable feature of the revivals here is the number of 
conversions among the ' new recruits.' You are aware, I sup- 
pose, that the West and South have always practiced as the 
Wesleyans in Europe and Canada do — receiving members who 
manifest, as the rules require, a 1 desire to flee from the wrath 
to come.' More than half our members have been thus received 
without conversion, professed ' seekers ' of religion, and were 
converted in the Church. This has worked well, and I doubt 
not thousands on thousands have gone to glory, who never 
would have been saved but for this provision; but after the 
revivals of 1840, '41, '42, and '43, class-meetings were neglected, 
and political agitations were kept up, and sad results followed. 
Besides, holiness was not insisted on, and the old members sunk 
down into worldliness. This winter conversions have been 
very powerful, and more have been regenerated than have 
joined the Church; a rare occurrence here. We of course 
expect more permanent fruits from this than from the former 
revival. 

" Mrs. H. and myself have had a pleasant winter in a very 
delightful family when in the city, where prayer and praise 
were our daily employ. My connection with foreign missions 
kept me more at home than I anticipated, as it was necessary 
for me to be where I might get letters seasonably, yet three- 
fourths of my time has been spent in excursions in the vicinity 
of the city, and now and then one hundred and one hundred 
and fifty miles out. I am now moving toward Cincinnati on 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 307 



such an excursion, expecting to reach the city in two weeks. 
I then propose to prepare for General Conference. 

" Go on, my dear brother, ' strong in the strength that God 
supplies;' and while you labor, keep your eye on the crown. 
We have a pleasant prospect before us. Let us not shrink from 
the cross ; let us confess as well as preach ; let us be witnesses 
as well as advocates ; let us tell the people what religion has 
done for us. The witness is sworn to tell the ' whole ' truth. 
The good Wesleyan class-leader said he had to confess to the 
'utmost of what Christ had done for him.' We shall, if 
Providence favor, soon meet." 

"Lancaster, Ohio, Sunday, 2. — Preached in the morning 
with great difficulty, but some comfort. In the evening 
assisted to administer the Lord's Supper to a large number of 
communicants. Feel very unwell of cold and some symptoms 
of erysipelas. 

" Circleville, Thursday, 6. — Have spent a day with my 
dear Mend Dr. Roe. Preached last evening. Have had a 
pleasant visit. Peace. 

" Portsmouth, Monday, 10. — Came to Portsmouth on Friday. 
At Piketon met several brethren, Porter and others, who 
desired me to stay and preach. Have put up here with 
Brother Turner. Met Samuel Crull here, associate judge, a 
most venerable Methodist, living at Scioto, Scioto County. How 
grace shines in him ! The first man that began family prayer 
in the Scioto Valley. Preached yesterday for Germans and 
English, and paid the German Church debt, $200. 

" Cincinnati, Sunday, 16. — Preached this morning at 
' Maley ' for Brother Dillon. Had a hard time. O my God, 
help me ! My sky is overcast. Clouds are thy canopy. Help, 
Lord, for the honor of thy name ! 

" Stettbenville, Saturday, 22. — Preached here to-day, hav- 
ing left Cincinnati on Thursday in the Monongahela. Bishop 
Morris stopped at Marietta, and I expected to stop with him, 
but on the whole thought it better to deny myself and labor 
here. He is a precious friend, Christian, minister, and bishop. 
God revives his work in my heart. 



308 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



. "Sunday, 23. — Have had a pleasant day for myself. My 
congregations were moderate. I believe I could preach more 
1 popularly,' but what would become of my conscience ! It was 
given out once by my friends that I could be eloquent: so 
aiming, doubtless I could get more hearers ; but I should feel 
a curse and blight upon my souL Lord, help me to be more 
willing than I am to be vile before the people. It tries me to 
think the Methodists should be told, ' Your bishop can't preach 
much ;' but they may need to be humbled as well as L Lord, 
help ! sanctify ! bless ! 

"Pittsburgh, Monday, May 1. — Preached yesterday for Dr. 
Herron. Had a comfortable season. Heard Norval Wilson in 
the morning. A good discourse. Have had comfort. This 
morning Bishop Hedding opened General Conference at nine 
o'clock by reading a chapter, calling on Bishops Waugh and 
Morris to pray, choosing secretaries, and then briefly ad- 
dressing conference. It was a pleasant morning, but many are 
gone. Lord, help thy servants to be true to themselves, the 
Discipline, the Church, and, above all, to God ! Clouds hang 
over us, but God can disperse them. 

" Wednesday, 3. — General Conference has now been in session 
three days. The sessions have been pleasant and devout. 
Presided for the first time to-day. The Lord did not forsake 
me ; but it is a trial to preside in the General Conference before 
so many colleagues. The Lord help us to be united, discreet, 
and devout in discussing the important questions which must 
come before us. ' Except the Lord build the house, they labor 
in vain who build it. Except the Lord keep the city, the 
watchman waketh in vain.' 

" Thursday, 4. — This evening I have an hour's leisure, and 
Christ blesses. 

"Sunday, 7. — Preached at half past ten A. M. at Liberty- 
street. A large congregation and happy time. Thank God for 
his great goodness ! In the evening heard Dr. Dixon. A great 
sermon, truly great. Its style simple, its thoughts sublime and 
moving. My soul rejoiced. God, I trust, has sent this mes- 
senger to the American Wesleyan Church. 

u Tuesday, 9. — General Conference proceeds slowly. God 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 309 



has helped me, wonderfully helped me. I desire to make a 
new covenant with my God. Heard Dr. Dixon preach to the 
conference at half past ten A. M. A sermon long to be remem- 
bered. I dwelt on high. Dined with him and the bishops. 

" Sunday, 14. — Preached this morning at Beaver-street, Alle- 
ghany City, on Christ's intercession. A house full of solemn, 
attentive listeners. It has been a good day to my soul. I am 
thankful for the privilege of refreshing my spirit in God's own 
sanctuary. O that with a larger measure of the Spirit I could 
plead both with God in prayer, and with man in exhortation, 
and ' prevail.' Lord, wilt thou not help me, for the honor of 
thy name ? Christ shall have the glory. 

"Jesus is -worthy to receive 

Honor and power divine ; 
And "blessings more than we can give 

Be, Lord, for ever thine." 

" Saturday, 20. — A weary week. The business of the con- 
ference fatigues me, and differences of opinion on questions of 
moment disturb me for a day or two, and for a season my com- 
munion with God seems restrained. This last is peculiarly 
distressing. Lord, why hidest thou thy face from me ? Return, 
O holy dove, return ! ' 

" Sunday, 21. — O Lord, thou hast returned indeed and in 
irath, and I hasten to record thine unmerited goodness. This 
morning the Sun of Righteousness gradually arose with healing 
in his beams. My appointment to preach was at St. Andrew's 
Protestant Episcopal Church, (Dr. Preston's.) Little did I 
think to enjoy such a heaven on earth there. O how precious 
to my soul was the truth I preached ! How wonderfully did 
God sharpen my appetite, and cause me to feast on the honey 
of his word ! Now my soul is strengthened, now I am in the 
green pastures, and bursting fountains and flowing streams of 
comfort surround me on all hands. 'Bless the Lord, O my 
soul, and forget not all his benefits ! ' ' > 

"Sunday, 28. — Preached this morning at half past ten 
o'clock for Dr. Riddle, Third Presbyterian Church. The 
preaching of the cross is sweet indeed while the heart bears 
the cross and its adorable victim. The last week has been 



310 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



spent in the land Beulah, and this morning Christ was in me 
the hope of glory ! O what enjoyments I have had for some 
days past ! Jesus, my adorable Kedeemer, how canst thou take 
so vile a worm to thine heart ! 

c for this love let rocks and hills 

Their lasting silence break ; 
And all harmonious human tongues, 

The Saviour's praises speak.' 

" Pittsburgh, June 1. — Conference closed this day at half past 
one P. M. This is a short session of the General Conference, and 
it has been most remarkable for its calm good-nature. In four 
weeks and four days there have not been half a dozen unkind 
words spoken on the floor. A most delightful influence has 
been shed forth on the assembly. Its measures are mostly such 
as I believe God will approve. Many difficult and trying ques- 
tions have been settled by votes remarkably harmonious, where 
no approach toward harmony was anticipated. The close, in a 
few words of exhortation, prayer, etc., was a feeling time, and 
may God's most holy blessing be on his departing servants, the 
members and the bishops! Here have been aged fathers 
whom we shall see no more on earth. But, O blessed thought ! 
we shall see them, we trust, in heaven. I praise thee, O my 
blessed Lord, for thy goodness to me, a poor worm ! In an espe- 
cial manner thou hast blessed me. My soul has been visited and 
made strong. I go now in thy strength. 

* Myself, my residue of days 
I consecrate to thee.' 

"Pittsburgh, Sunday, 4. — This day, O my God, I offer thee 
praise ! Thou art mine, ineffably, blissfully mine ! I know not 
how to speak of thy goodness to such a worm of unspeakable 
vileness ! Wert thou to crush me with the foot of thy vengeance, 
all would seem to me plain, and would need no explanation. 
That just and reasonable retribution thou, my soul, wouldst 
quickly understand, except the delay of it so long. But how 
shall I understand this : that infinite justice turns from its proper 
work, and infinite pity comes weeping and bleeding over a very 
wretch and rebel to wash away all his guilt and pollutions, 
and put grace and honor on such defonnity and guilt, and lift 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 311 



up this vile soul to communion with God, to fellowship with the 
ever-blessed Trinity ? Thus, O my God ! dost thou deal with 
thy servant. Thou settest him as a seal on thine heart, on 
thine arm. Thou turnest his very hell into a heaven. Thou 
causest his foul heart to be cleansed, and to love thee with a 
love so pure and so fervent that it is a perpetually sweet con- 
suming blaze within him ! Thou washest him in such a way as 
the blood of Christ can wash and make clean. Thou enablest 
him to believe with a faith so strong as joins in one spirit to 
Christ — I am a witness for thee ! 

' Jesus, my God ! thy blood alone 
Hath power sufficient to atone ; 
Thy blood can wash me white as snow : 
No Jewish types can cleanse me so.' 

I am thine forever ! O teach me how to glorify thee in time 
and in eternity ! 

" Cumberland, Md., Monday, 8. — Reached here last night at 
twelve o'clock. Had a hard day, quite unwell, and much dissi- 
pation. Laid the corner-stone of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church at ten A. M. A good congregation and serious atten- 
tion. I tried to do good, and have some hope." 

" Cttmberland, June 9, 1848. 

" To Mrs. H., — I was extremely fatigued on reaching here. 
The coach was not crowded, nor the weather warm ; but the 
road is very rough for a turnpike, and we did not reach here 
until after midnight. The passengers too would have the 
coach open, and I caught a bad cold. I slept at the hotel, and 
yesterday morning felt poorly ; but I got through the exercises 
very well ; the sun a little too hot. I had a pleasant season ; a 
large congregation, very attentive, and some weeping, for I 
'determined not to know anything among them save Jesus 
Christ and him crucified,' and the Lord blessed me in this pur- 
pose. On my return, if I am well enough, I will try to preach here. 

" I have had a good night's rest, and feel much refreshed this 
morning. I start in about an hour (at eight o'clock) for Balti- 
more, and intend to pass right on to Philadelphia, leaving a 
line for Bishop Waugh. 



312 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



" Yesterday and day before were less joyful than the previous 
day ; but I yet cleave to Christ as mine. All I am and can be 
shall be his, my sins with the rest, for what can I do with them 
but cast them on that adorable Saviour whom they have 
crucified ? 

It was for crimes that I have done 
He groaned upon the tree.' 

My heart melts like wax in the fire at the repetition of it. 
O may we live, my dear M., only to adore, bear his cross, suffer, 
and praise ! I trust and pray that you may be better. I passed, 
eight miles from Uniontown, a beautiful place called, I think, 
Franklin Springs. Some of the passengers stopped. I wished 
you were there, it seemed so healthful. Yet there you could 
not have that pious family with you, nor your daily social 
prayers." 

" Saturday night, 10. — Reached Dr. P.'s at seven o'clock. 
Was sick, and they took me in and ministered both to soul and 
body. Few such families have I found on earth. The Lord be 
praised for them ! 

" New York, June 11, 1848. 

" To Mrs. H., — Here, by the grace and providence of our 
heavenly Father, I sit in Dr. P.'s delighful northwest chamber 
on this holy Sabbath, writing a few words of Christian exhorta- 
tion and comfort to you. May the theme be one suited to that 
eternity which is just before us ! 

" Christ crucified is the theme for poor sinners. How the 
heart delights to dwell on it ! Christ crucified, and living by 
the power of God, by self-energy, and made our High Priest 
forever. Such a 'High Priest became us;' such a one we 
needed; such a one, holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from 
sinners, and made higher than the heavens, and he only, 
could save us with an everlasting salvation. But he can, will, 
does save us! 'Having therefore boldness to enter into the 
holiest by the blood of Jesus Christ,' we draw near and are 
saved. 

"I have just had a delightful talk with Sister P. about faith. 
She grows in faith. She speaks of it so that her word is with 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 313 



power. I say it reverently, meaning that Christ's power is upon 
her, and in her word. 

" My dear M., we will not be discouraged because our faith 
is weaker. Ours, too, will be a growing faith, and we shall wax 
confident and break all the bonds which Satan would cast 
around us. The Lord will put strength in us according to his 
mighty power working in us. We will trust and not be afraid. 
God be praised for his great goodness to us ! 

"Monday morning, 12. — I reached here late on Saturday, per- 
fectly exhausted by the night's ride from Baltimore. I am won- 
derfully refreshed this morning, and feel as though I should be 
able to do my work with God's help. Start in a few minutes." 

" Tboy, N. Y., Monday, 12. — Could not go out yesterday even 
to hear preaching. Had not my usual life of soul. Reached 
here at seven P. M. 

" Troy, June 13, 1848. 
" To Mbs. H., — Your refreshing letter came to me this 13th, 
being but four days on the way. I write this evening, as from 
to-morrow I can only drop you a few lines, which I purpose to do 
every third day : Friday, Monday, and Thursday. I reached here, 
after a pleasant sail up, on Monday, and am quartered at Brother 
Hillman's, with our dear Mends Jesse T. Peck and his wife, 
both rejoicing in perfect love. Sister Palmer and Walter came 
to Caldwell's Landing with me. My health was not perfectly 
restored when I reached Dr. P.'s; and at Philadelphia, having 
rode in the cars all night from Baltimore, I was very ill. I went 
to Brother Boswell's in a state of fever of the nerves, (if there be 
such a thing,) such as I hardly ever experienced. Dr. P.'s 
medicine helped me wonderfully, and I believe I am now per- 
fectly well, except weakness. I am not so strong as when Gen- 
eral Conference commenced, and cannot preach much until I 
improve. Many brethren here called to-day and several com- 
mittees, and I stood the constant company far better than I ex- 
pected. I am delightfully accommodated here in a most agree- 
able family and pleasant room. Miss you, of course, very 
much. But, except the morning I reached Philadelphia and had 
such an unaccountable turn, (which I now doubt not was mostly 

14 



314 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



owing to my nervous state from riding all night in the cars,) 
have been very thankful that you did not come with me. I am 
now thankful. I never wish you to take the journey when it is 
not strictly necessary. It is exhausting and dangerous. A car 
ran off the track near Harper's Ferry, two or three days before I 
passed, and one crushed passenger, I hear, is since dead. I think 
my greatest difficulties are past, for I can return more leisurely 
and without any night travel, by staying over one day in Cum- 
berland, and getting Brother Myers, who has offered, to carry 
me fourteen miles, so that I qpn take the stage at five o'clock 
A. M. instead of two o'clock. 

" I hope to be in Philadelphia Sabbath week, in Cumberland 
Tuesday night, in Brownsville Thursday night, in Pittsburgh 
Friday morning, and on Saturday morning start for Wheeling, 
but will be earlier if possible. I may be able to spend Sabbath 
in Baltimore, and reach Pittsburgh Thursday morning two weeks. 

« i Why art thou cast down, O my soul ! ' Let not your faith 
fail. Its trial 'is precious.' 'I will trust and not be afraid,' 
for ' the Lord Jehovah is my strength.' I can scarcely say my 
song, for I can't sing just now. 

" Wednesday morning, 14. — I feel very comfortable this morn- 
ing ; hope for a good day. 

" One o'clock P. M. — Had a delightful session this morning. 
The Lord was present. Three prayers at opening. Felt well, 
very well, this noon. God was pleased to meet and bless me 
greatly in the Conference Room. It does seem very wonderful 
how he blesses me in conference. Now I must bid adieu, my 
dear, till I reach Friday, and will write again." 

" Teot, June 16, 1848. 
" To Mrs. H., — Your three welcome letters reached me this 
(Friday) evening, and I now sit down, after a hard day's work, 
to say my health is perfectly restored. I never felt better in my 
life than for two days past. My health came back to me sud- 
denly, and as by a charm. All my unpleasant symptoms left 
me in an hour. There have been scarcely fifteen minutes since 
eight o'clock this morning that I have not been at work ; yet 
now, at ten o'clock, (night,) having just dismissed my presiding 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 315 



elders, feel almost fresh as youth or morning. Your letter 
greatly encourages me. God, I trust, will commission some- 
body to wake up Pittsburgh. Brother Peck cannot come. 
This conference is three times as needy as Pittsburgh. Some 
twenty of their active men will fail in health, character, and by 
location this year. I never saw a conference so stripped. What 
to do for them I know not. In some districts nearly one third 
of the appointments seem unsupplied. I shall have half a dozen 
trials here ; but for this we should finish early. Our ordinary 
work is very forward. 

" Saturday morning, half past six.— Have had a pleasant and 
refreshing sleep, but awoke at three o'clock. Kose and spent 
some time in prayer, laid down and slept until five, and then 
prepared for the duties of the day. Brother C. is arrested for 
preaching Zinzendorfism. He is the most popular man in the 
conference, and has made dreadful work. Brother P. thinks a 
majority of the conference may sustain him. Thus, what other 
conferences condemn as heresy, this conference is likely to ap- 
prove. Pray, as soon as you get this, that God will interpose. 
The conference have voted a request that the ordinations be on 
Tuesday next, and that I preach to the conference and admin- 
ister the Lord's Supper then. Could you get this early enough 
I might have your prayers. I expect to preach to-morrow also. 
On receiving this you can write to Philadelphia, as I shall not 
be able to leave there at any rate until next Monday. I hope 
to spend the Sabbath there. I had a delightful letter from 
Sister Boswell yesterday, inquiring after my health and encour- 
aging me greatly. ' The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.' 
It is wonderful how strong he makes me feel in soul and body. 
I have no hope of finding a man east of the mountains for 
Liberty-street. There is a loud call for men here on all hands. 
I have removed Brother C. from his district before his trial, 
lest there should be a storm if I do it for his heresy. I fear for 
this conference. Brother P. is needed here, now especially." 

"Troy, June 19, 1848. 
" To Mrs H., — I preached yesterday morning in the principal 
Methodist Church. The weather was hot, almost insufferable. 



816 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



The house crowded almost to suffocation. It was a good test 
of my health. I preached, with a great outlay of voice and 
strength, one hour and a quarter, and felt no more inconven- 
ience than though I had slept. It was a gracious season, and I 
trust good was done. I attended church again at three P. M., 
again at six, and still again at eight. Heard Dr. Peck preach 
on 'Holiness' in a Presbyterian church. A good sermon. The 
Lord is with him. The Sabbath was a good day ; not so ex- 
ceedingly lively as sometimes. I will add a few lines after 
conference, and send this by the five o'clock P. M. mail. It is 
now six. I awoke at three, as I invariably do now, having 
slept well. My health is perfectly good this morning. 

" Noon. — The conference has just closed. C. is on trial, and 
his written sermon has been read. He is fully heretical." 

" Troy Conference, June 21. — Yesterday morning at eight 
o'clock, at the request of conference, preached and ordained 
fourteen deacons and eight elders. I was much perplexed in 
the morning about a subject for the pulpit. Selected a familiar 
one, which I feared, from the peculiar state of the conference, 
might not be profitable and acceptable ; yet I greatly desired to 
preach on it. I asked God to direct me. When I thought the 
question settled, about fifteen minutes before I went to the con- 
ference room, a passage which I had never preached on came 
with a rush upon me, and my thoughts and feelings were so 
rapid, and new, and bm-ning, that I was constrained, as it were, 
to venture, without usual premeditation, to take it. And O, 
blessed Saviour, thou didst fulfill thy promise, on which I fully 
leaned as I took my text, ' Lo, I am with you always ! ' I bless 
and praise thee ! " 

" To Mrs. H., — We finished Brother C.'s case yesterday, by 
his coming forward and presenting a paper, stating that as his 
preaching the doctrine produced excitement, etc., he would 
cease to inculcate it either in public or in private. The confer- 
ence accepted the paper and dropped the trial. I called on the 
brethren to kneel down and give thanks to God, and we had a 
good time. Now we have S.'s case, and one or two others, 
which I fear will detain us all this week. I doubt if I shall 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 



317 



leave before Saturday at any rate. I pray God abundantly to 
bless. Christ is ours forever." 

"Tboy, June 23, 1848. 

" To Mrs. H., — Here I am, with no hope of getting through 
until Monday. But we ought to be very cheerful and not in- 
dulge one thought of regret, since my health is perfectly good, 
and, saving one or two days in which I felt much fatigued, I 
am as fresh as rest could make me. I never passed through a 
conference so calmly before. Last night I was weary from sit- 
ting, and from being at the missionary meeting the night before 
until eleven o'clock. But I dismissed my presiding elders last 
night at eight, lay down and slept until four without waking, 
and am as fresh as morning now ; never felt better. My sta- 
tioning is done except one little review, and all the business 
accomplished but three trials. 

" I have had a delightful morning. The death of Christ for 
me and mine, and a dying world, never more deeply affected 
me than now. "When I awoke this morning the thought came 
rushing in upon me, ' Jesus died for me, my wife, my child, my 
friends, my foes:' and the truth seemed so amazing that I 
thought, Can this be so ? Am I not in a dream ? Christ — God 
in flesh — die for me ! I roused myself to see if I was awake. I 
then said to myself, 'I can never think of anything again in 
time or eternity but this one thing : Jesus — God in flesh — died 
for me and for mortals.' O what a truth is that ! It burns 
into my very soul. ' None but Jesus will I know, and Jesus 
crucified.' 

" I should feel perfectly content here now but for fear you are 
ill. But I give you to Jesus. I shall make haste to you. I am 
of the opinion that my work was here." 

" Troy, Saturday, 12 o'clock M., June 24, 1848. 
" To Mrs. H., — I am well, very well. Preach to-morrow in 
Lansingburgh, three miles up the river, and at night in Troy. 
We are pushing business day and night. Expect to leave here 
Tuesday morning for New York, and reach you Saturday morn- 
ing, July 1. We must start then right off to Wheeling. Have 
all things ready. If you find I have not time to go up to the 
house between the arrival of the Brownsville packet at Pitts- 



318 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



burgh and the departure of the Wheeling packet, you must be 
on the wharf ready to go. 

" Don't be troubled about this, beloved. It is so light and 
healthful and sweet to labor for Christ, that I exult that you 
and I can move about in these ways for him. O how my heart 
outruns my hands and feet in labor ! Your letter last eve, of 
the 18th, fills me with comfort. I will write again on Mon- 
day. I have arranged not to travel at night on my way back, 
and expect a delightful journey in company with Christ." 

"Troy, N. Y., June 25, 1848. 
" To Mrs. H., — It is now half past eight o'clock, Sabbath 
morning — holy time. I awoke at half past four, and my medi- 
tations all the morning have been sweet. My tears of joy have 
fallen every now and then like rain drops, and it has been diffi- 
cult to contain the deep emotions of my soul. Our family 
devotions have been seasons of holy baptisms. The Lord is 
with us in the family. Each one feels, ' O Lord, thou art my 
God, early will I seek thee.' It is a little heaven in this pious 
dwelling. I read over your letter again this morning, which 
made me weep the more. I need a fresh baptism, and am strait- 
ened until it be accomplished. God will work. 

l Eefining fire go through my heart.' 

I have wonderful views of the Saviour, of the freeness and the 
fullness of his salvation ; but I want more wonderful experiences 
by the fresh application of it. Maybe I have more of the last 
than it seems to me I have. I have much, but ' I want a sun, a 
sea of light.' 

" But I will, grace enabling me, be thankful for what I have. 
I have Christ. This I do not for a moment doubt. I love him, 
it seems to me, more than the tongues of men or the hymns of 
heaven can express. Is not this an eternal miracle, that such 
a vile rebel should be so changed as to love God with an inex- 
pressible love, and adore him with inexpressible ardors ? 1 
God, I will praise thee ! for though thou wast angry with me, 
thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortest me.' Praise 
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 319 



" Sabbath, seven o'clock P. M. — Preached at ten A. M. in Troy, 
on ' Purity of Heart,' and at three in Lansingburgh, on ' Chil- 
dren of God.' Precious seasons, especially in the morning. 
Cannot but hope that good was done. Brother Peck closed, 
in the morning, with prayer. Great power in his prayer. Great 
responses all over the house. O pray that the Lord may bless 
the word ! Brother C. was present. My sermon crossed his 
trail in every direction. He looks down. Up to this time has 
been very kind. I said nothing while his trial was on hand, 
but felt it my duty to come out boldly now. Some of the 
preachers will blame me, but my ordination vows must not be 
forgotten. The church where he preached heresy was not the 
one where I preached this morning. A conflict is going on 
here, but the work of sanctification is constantly progressing, 
one preacher after another getting baptized, and all, I trust, will 
come out right. Pray for the purity and peace of Jerusalem. 
Lord, awake to her help and scatter all her foes. 

" Monday morning, 26. — I have had delightful rest, and feel 
well prepared for my journey. God be praised for his good- 
ness ! Be patient, believing, prayerful, and full of praises. I 
will write a line at noon and let you know. 

" Half past one o'clock P. M. — Conference just closed sweetly. 
Brethren think they never had so good a conference, though it 
was the hardest they ever had. I am sure the Lord has been 
with them. O bless his name forever ! I start this evening 
at five for New York, and hope to see you on Friday morning ; 
if not, on Saturday. My health never was better. Let us 
praise ! " 

" Wheeling, Va., July 1. — Reached my home for the con- 
ference this morning. (Sister List's.) Was brought safely on 
my way from New York, and reached Pittsburgh on Thursday 
evening and found all well. Left Pittsburgh Friday evening, 
and, after a restless night, reached here at six o'clock this 
morning. Lord, help me to seek thee here, and have fresh 
blessings sealed on my heart. Refresh me from thy presence. 
I cannot, O Lord, do thy work but in thy strength and 
wisdom. Grant me these at this conference for Christ's sake. 
Amen. 



320 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"Sunday, 2. — This has been a day of blessings. I much 
needed to be blessed this morning. Felt a peculiar unfitness 
for Sabbath duties, and longed after Christ. Crying to him 
for help, he heard me, and poured his Spirit upon me. 
Preached at half past ten A. M. to a large assembly, very 
attentive, and, I trust, some moved. O God, bless thy word ! 
Make it 'quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged 
sword.' Quicken the dead by it this day. I long for power to 
prevail with man. For this my prayers must prevail with thee, 
O God ! So fill me with thy Spirit that thy word from my lips 
shall be as the fire and the hammer that breaketh in pieces. 
This evening I walked one mile to preach to the Germans in 
the Mission Church, under the care of Brother Breunig. We 
had a pleasant time, but walking back in the rain through the 
mud was hard work. It made me puff and sweat as I had not 
for weeks or months. My locomotive power is feeble for a man 
of my years and health. I praise thee, O my blessed Lord, for 
what thou givest me of bodily, mental, and moral power, to 
labor in thy cause. Help me to improve all to thine honor, 
and to thy most holy and blessed name shall be the praise, 
through Jesus Christ my Lord. 

"Sunday, 9. — Preached this morning with much comfort, 
having ordained twenty-five deacons, (thirteen traveling.) In 
the morning, love-feast and administered the sacrament. God 
be praised for his goodness in aiding and comforting me this 
day ! O my blessed God and Saviour, lead me into a richer 
heritage of thy grace, that I may serve thee worthily in some 
degree ! This afternoon John H. Power preached, and it was 
a good season. Five elders only were ordained. At love-feast 
Eliza List joined the Church, and several others. Two of this 
dear family have now joined the Church since we sojourned 
with them. We love to see the fatherless children coming to 
Christ. It is a lovely family. The father and husband has 
just gone to heaven, but a pious widow and several promising 
children remain behind, and are mostly in the Church. 

"Wednesday, 12, 6£ P. M. — Conference has closed, having 
done up an immense amount of business in seven working 
days. Here the two conferences, with double reports from 



episcopal labor: fifth year. 321 



each of them on some subjects, have been seven days in session, 
while Troy occupied eleven days. It was a peaceful, good 
session. God was with us. O may it be the beginning of 
better days for Pittsburgh! They need better days. Secret 
societies do injury among them. 

"Beaver, Pa., Monday, 17. — Reached here on Saturday 
twelve o'clock at night. Put up at a large tavern on the point, 
and there being no other room for us in the inn, Mrs. H. slept 
on the sofa in the parlor, and I on the floor close by. Early in 
the morning reached Brother Adams's, near the church, (Bridge- 
water.) Preached twice yesterday. Had little comfort, but 
some freedom. O my God revive me, and give me thy Spirit ! 
To-day find a difficulty brewing about the preacher in Bridge- 
water. Give me wisdom, thou Father of lights, for Christ's 
sake ! 

"Warren, Ohio, Wednesday, 19. — I am now on the Con- 
necticut reserve, a beautiful portion of this world, almost 
without its equal. This is a fair town of two thousand souls. 
I put up with old Brother Stevens, 'over the bridge.' Left 
Beaver in Brother Coston's benevolent two-horse carriage, and 

had a delightful pious ride to , and put up at the pleasant 

residence of Brother Little. Reached here at twelve o'clock. 

" Thursday, 20. — "Was taken ill to-day, yet preached at night 
to a full house. I could not preach as I desired. I had a sort 
of key-hole view of truth, and my sermon must have shown it. 
O Lord, forgive that I am not better prepared to honor thee in 
my ministrations. 

"Ashtabula, Friday, 22. — Dedicated the church at Jef- 
ferson, nine miles from here, at one P. M. In spite of the 
rain had a good congregation ; but my sermon was half over 
before they all assembled. The church is 32 by 48, and con- 
venient Methodists there are a small band. I tarried on 
Friday night with a good Brother Burgiss, and dined with a 
Brother Norris. I am much indebted to Brothers Bain and 
Stearns for a pleasant carriage-ride from Warren to this place, 
where I and Mrs. H. have comfortable lodgings with Brother 
Lockwood, whose sick wife is east for her health. Thanks be 
to God for his mercies, but above all for Jesus Christ his Son. 



322 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Sunday \ 23. — Heard Darius Smith in the morning preach 
a good hortatory discourse to a small congregation assem- 
bled late. Fear the dull (choir) singing helped mc to be dull. 
O that Methodists would be Methodists ! Tried to preach at 
three P. M. A large and attentive audience. Same dull choir 
singing. Had a little more life than in the morning, yet short, 
O how short ! of what I ought to have. What shall I do to 
preach Christ and him crucified with power from on high? 
Lord, clothe me with power. 

" Sunday, 30.— Love-feast in the morning in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and six deacons ordained ; the seventh 
objected to, as teaching that the Bible sanctions slavery. At 
half past ten A. M. preached in the Presbyterian church to a 
crowded house and a multitude outside, and ordained six 
elders. 

"God was pleased to bless me to-day and make the word 
sweet to me, and I trust some of the serious congregation 
were edified. O Lord, revive thy work! Let thy ministers 
feel thy power, and be the channels of thy power to a cold- 
hearted Church and a perishing race of sinners. Praised be 
God that Christ is mine ; is made unto me ' wisdom, righteous- 
ness, sanctification, and redemption ! ' 'I the chief of sinners 
am, but Jesus died for me.' 

" Tuesday, August 1. — Erie Conference closed this morning 
at half past eleven A. M. It has been a good conference. God 
has given us peace, brotherly love, and a good measure of his 
blessed presence, which led us to exclaim, ' The best of all is 
God is with us ! ' Five days and a half to a conference. 
Religion helps on our work. 

" Patnesville, Ohio, Thursday, 3. — Reached Dr. Goodwin's 
at half past one P. M., having left Ashtabula at eight o'clock 
A. M. Had a delightful ride in a private carriage sent on for 
us by the Mends in Painesville. We both (myself and my dear 
wife) talked very seriously to our driver, a young man, who 
informed us that he was left an orphan at an early age. May 
God bless our feeble but well-meant efforts to warn him and 
draw him to Christ ! My soul has this day received some 
comfort, but O for more of Christ ! I want ' the solemn awe 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 323 



that dares not move.' Blessed Redeemer, revive thy work in 
my poor heart ! 

" Cleveland, Thursday, 10. — Reached Willoughby on 
Monday, August 6, and preached on the way at Mentor, put- 
ting up with Brother Sawyer. Stayed with Brother Eddy and 
his poor afflicted family in Willoughby, and preached on 
Tuesday at two o'clock. Reached here on Wednesday (yester- 
day) and preached last evening in the large church. A com- 
fortable season. Put up here with a precious family, (Brother 
Lowman.) Methodism is scarce here. Lord, help thy people ! 

"Mansfield, Sunday, 13. — This Sabbath has been a most 
precious day to my soul. God graciously visited me in the 
morning, and has repeated his manifestations of himself all 
along through the day. In the morning I preached with a 
feeble intellect, and was greatly surprised and somewhat em- 
barrassed to find so little power and freedom of thought, while 
my heart was so uplifted and comforted. Praised be God for 
the comfort ! and as to my want of power to preach, two good 
results may follow : it It may be that I shall be convinced 
more than ever that low and high states of joy do not neces- 
sarily control my power to proclaim the Gospel, but God's good 
pleasure and blessed will. 2. I am humbled, and that is im- 
portant. Many not of our Church were present. The ex-gov- 
ernor sat just before me. I doubt not but he and many others 
thought the General Conference acted wildly when it chose me 
to the oversight of the Church. This humiliation, however, 
(and I was conscious of it,) did not disturb my joy in Christ. 
The fire of his love burned on in my soul, and I was happy 
still. This assured me of a great conquest over nature. Grace 
does reign. O God, I praise thee ! At three P. M. I attended 
general class, and enjoyed much of the presence of Christ 
among his dear people. O Lord, this day I am thine ! thine 
forever ! 

"Monday, 21. — North Ohio Conference has progressed 
rapidly to this time, but Free Masonry and Odd Fellowship 
have arrested us. O how can brethren allow the peace of the 
Church to be thus violated ! The Lord will judge in these 
matters! Preached in the morning on Christian fellowship. 



324 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Some, I trust, may have been blessed. Ordained sixteen 
deacons and seven elders. The love-feast was excellent. The 
Lord yet blesses me, and my peace is as a river. Lord, I will 
praise thee ! 

"Wednesday, 23. — Conference at twelve M. Have enjoyed 
and suffered much during its session. Masonry and Odd 
Fellowship, a bane in the midst of us, have done us 
much evil here. O may Methodist ministers be men of one 
work ! 

" MotrsT Vebnon, Friday, 25. — Have spent this day here in 
sickness and pain. Lord, help me ! Endue me with power 
from on high. O for the day of thy power ! Wilt thou not 
revive me again, and cause thy face to shine, that I may be 
saved ! 

"Xenia, Monday, 28. — Reached here at two o'clock P. M. 
and found friends well. I am constrained to say, 1 Behold, I 
am vile ! ' 4 a worm, and no man ! ' Spent the Sabbath in 
Columbus in-doors. Was too ill to go out, and could not 
muster resolution to attempt it. I did not enjoy solitude 
sweetened as I have sometimes. I cry unto thee, my God ! my 
Rock ! Hear me, O Lord, for my spirit faileth ! Strengthen 
me for Christ's sake. Amen. 

" Indianapolis, Friday, September 1. — Left home yesterday 
in the ' Swiftsure.' Slept on board, and took the cars at seven 
A. M. Reached here at three P. M. Put up at a Cincinnati 
friends, L. Williamson's. Had no great comfort to-day. Lord, 
bless me for conference duties. O how shall I appear before 
the conference unless thou bless me ! Come, Holy Spirit, and 
diffuse thy healing grace through all my sick and wounded 
nature ! Amen. 

" Gbeexcastle, Ixd., Sunday, 3. — O my God and Saviour, 
thou hast met me again in mercy, in unfathomable mercy ! 
My soul, but not my lips, shouts inwardly to thy praise. Thou 
hast helped me this day. Glory be to thy name for ever ! 
What a change hast thou made in me by thy Spirit ! ' Thou 
hast changed for me my mourning into rejoicing.' Thou hast 
made me full of joy with thy countenance. Glory be to the 
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ! 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 325 



' for a thousand tongues to sing 
My great Redeemer's praise ! ' 

Now, Lord, thou art mine ! 

" Tuesday, 5. — Indiana Conference commenced to-day, and 
proceeded piously and rapidly with its business. Had comfort 
in its morning devotions. This is a body of young, talented, 
and pious ministers. The Lord grant us a pious session for 
Christ's sake ! " 

" Geeencastxe, September 4, 1848. 

" To Mrs. H., — Yesterday was a pleasant day without and 
especially within. The Lord made my heart the 'burning 
bush,' and dwelt within me. A beautiful church, about like 
Ninth-street, (except a little narrower, and a steeple,) was 
dedicated at half past ten A. M. Brother Benton of Lafayette 
preached at three P. M., and Brother Gillett at night. A good 
state of feeling, and the church debt was paid, and some $200 
over. It is a great ornament to the place. Has a good bell, 
weighing six hundred pounds. 

U I am in perfect health. Have a most delightful place to 
put up, near the church. Were it not for the very rough ride 
from Indianapolis I should wish you were here. It is better as 
it is, especially since I am so well. Most of the presiding elders 
are here. Pray much for me and the conference." 

" Sunday, 10. — Had a good Sabbath. A love-feast and 
sacrament in the morning and twelve deacons ordained. A 
good season in preaching at eleven A. M. On the whole a 
very precious Sabbath. Thanks be unto God for his great 
goodness toward me ! 

"Indianapolis, Monday, 11. — Closed the conference at half 
past three P. M., and rode in an open buggy forty miles, reach- 
ing here at a late hour. I am not so exhausted by all the 
labor and riding but that I can bless my God for his good- 
ness. This is the shortest session I have seen for the amount 
of business. A discussion too on college matters of one 
whole session. A good conference withal, and spiritual. 
Thanks be to God for all his goodness ! O Lord, help, and 
I will praise thee ! 



326 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



" Lawrencebubg, Sunday \ 17. — Came down to Aurora on 
Friday, and reached here yesterday by the kindness of Brother 
Toucey, who came after me to Aurora. Have spent a pleasant 
Sabbath here. The Lord has blessed this people. He has 
poured out his Spirit, and a goodly number walk in the light 
and power of his perfect love, others have backslidden, but they 
struggle to return. I should like to make this my home if it 
were right, but I am a stranger and pilgrim here for Christ's 
dear sake. Amen. 

"Newark, Ohio. — Reached here on Friday evening, and 
put up with Brother Arnold for conference. Preached yester- 
day A. M. in the new church. Heard Brother J. Young in the 
evening, and had a delightful love-feast this morning in the old 
church. Preached a dedication sermon this A. M. House 
crowded. About $460 collected for the new church, and $500 
for the old. God was with me this morning in mercy. O may 
some listening souls in the crowded assembly be reached by 
the word and Spirit, and be saved ! It was good to be there. 
Brother Gaddis exhorted and took up the subscription in the 
morning. 

" Ohio Conference, Sunday, October 1. — Our conference 
has progressed pleasantly. A good spirit prevails. God has 
done much for us. This day has been unutterably glorious to 
my own soul, and, I trust, to the souls of several preachers. O 
blessed Saviour, what hast thou wrought ! Since I reached 
this town my soul has been constantly rising. God has ap- 
peared for me. Since this conference has commenced he has 
lifted me up and ministered gloriously to my necessities. I 
have dwelt in an atmosphere of purity and love. This day he 
filled me to overflowing in the love-feast, and helped me to 
proclaim his word. Blessed be his holy name forever, and let 
all the people say Amen. 

" Zanebvtlle, Ohio, Saturday, 7. — Reached here on Wed- 
nesday at four P. M. An interesting and religious session. 
The Lord helped me, and I desire to record his goodness. 
Never have I been more consciously blessed than in conducting 
the business of this conference. O Lord, I will praise thee ! 
i Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid ; 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAE. 327 



the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is 
become my salvation.' 

" Rushville, Ohio, Tuesday, 10. — Reached here from 
Zanesville yesterday, and put up with the pious family of my 
dear friend H. S. Fernandis, a family worthy of the memory of 
such a man ; but whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, so has 
he done here. A heavy blow has fallen on this pious house. 
L. H. Fernandis, the eldest son, eleven years of age, three weeks 
ago to-day went out to gather nuts. As he started his mother 
said to him, ' Leonidas, be carefuL' In a short time his young 
companions ran to the house saying he had fallen from the tree 
and was dead. So it proved. He fell about forty feet, and 
never spoke or moved after his fall. Who can imagine the 
agony of the widowed mother. But now her grief is all chas- 
tened, her soul subdued to holy resignation, and her firstborn 
son, a child of the highest promise, one every way lovely and 
desirable, of remarkably quick thought, rapid in acquiring, and 
gentle, yet active and vivacious, was in a moment snatched 
from her embrace and transferred to heaven. Was the child's 
father there ? Did he know that at that time and place he 
was to receive from earth his firstborn son ? Probably. And 
that which was so deep a mystery and distress to us poor 
mortals on earth, was most likely an unmixed satisfaction to 
him whose vision is immortal, and to whom these lesser mys- 
teries are all solved. ' It is well with the child.' Prayers of 
unusual ardor and faith had been offered without ceasing from 
his birth, in his behalf. 

" Aurora, Ind., October 14. — Reached Mr. Chambers's in the 
evening. Had a day of many cares. Need grace. Lord, I cast 
myself on thee. 

"Wilmington, Ind., October 16. — Preached yesterday at 
Aurora in the morning, and here last evening. Had comfort, 
especially last evening. Some sore trials on hand. Lord, I 
look to thee. 

" Cincinnati, October 20. — Have had a meeting with Bishop 
Morris, who returned in safety from his long northwest tour. 
Thus we have finished our work in the conferences in great 
peace. Thanks be unto God ! Amen ! 



828 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"Xenia, October 23. — Reached here on Saturday evening. 
Found Mr. Wright's family well. Preached yesterday morning 
for Brother Raper. Had some zeal for God, and some pity for 
souls. Felt it good to proclaim Christ and warn sinners. Here 
I think to rest, except on Sabbaths, for five weeks to come. I 
need rest. Since the General Conference I have been unremit- 
tingly employed. To relax will be all important. Sometimes 
it seemed to me I must fail in my summer's work [ but God 
helped me, and I have, by his aid and mercy, got through. * O 
Lord, I will praise thee 1 ' " 

To Rev. C. W. Sears, whose beloved wife was passing through 
the valley of death, or, in the graphic words of Bishop H., in 
" the doorway of glory," he writes : 

"Xenia, November 9, 1848. 
" On returning from Zanesville I had the comfort of reading 
your letter, stating the blessed comforts which you and Sister 
Sears enjoy by the presence and power of the Comforter in 
your hearts. It is a privilege to learn what inward supports 
grace can minister in the midst of affliction. Shall it not 
greatly encourage us ' who remain,' to see the departing raised 
quite above the dread of death, and the dread of those separa- 
tions, worse than death, which attend on his reign ? Blessed 
be God for such examples of victorious faith and grace ! 

' Let sickness blast, let death devour, 
If heaven must recompense our pains,' 

is often sung. But we have examples more affecting still. It 
is not merely hope, a looking toward heaven for recompense, 
in the case of Angeline ; but short of heaven, even here, now, 
Christ given fully to the soul seems more than recompense for 
all. How sublime the scene — a peaceful, triumphant, joyful 
death-bed. O let us, as you propose, improve it to the utmost. 
You, to be sure, are in this crucible as none others can be ; but 
you thereby may gain refinings which none others can borrow 
therefrom. 

" No doubt the God of infinite mercy, who has so wonder- 
fully wrought, so deeply and abidingly comforted her and you, 
will still be near. He did not appear in the furnace and lion's 
den a little moment, and then forsake his saints to be consumed 



EPISCOPAL LABOR t FIFTH YEAR. 329 



or devoured. He tarried just as long as their exigencies de- 
manded. All the way through, neither could the fire burn nor 
the beasts rend. The same ' form of the Fourth ' is now with 
you and yours. The all-merciful Promiser is not less merciful, 
truthful, or faithful now than in the days of Daniel and his 
comrades. O what a privilege is that of the sanctified in 
death, 'fearing no evil,' comforted by 'his rod and his staff!' 
They have testified in health ; but what force is added to their 
words when they speak from the mouth of the grave, and tell 
us of a religion which fills it with perfumes, and is the doorway 
to glory ! Be thankful for such a scene. Be willing that Christ 
should be magnified in Angeline's death, as he is in her daily 
testimony, which is the testimony of a slowly dying saint. For 
God gives her gracious valedictory witnessings a great spinning 
out — protracts them for the wisest ends, namely, that we who 
live and watch may enjoy such edifying scenes. Glory to his 
holy name for ever and ever ! 

*' I trust you will be abundantly blessed in your labors for the 
living while you gaze at the triumphs of the dying. O may 
the victories of grace, a grace which is ' sufficient for thee,' for 
the afflicted in life and the conquering in death, be multiplied 
in your charge, while it is multiplied in your heart and in the 
heart of your dear companion ! My best regards to A. and the 
family. We meet in heaven ! " 

"Xenia, Monday evening, November 13. — Beached here at 
eleven A. M. Had a comfortable season at Springfield. 
Preached twice and felt some comfort. Found my family and 
friends well. 

" Monday, 20. — Had a comfortable day yesterday. Preached 
in the morning, and exhorted with unusual zeal and zest at 
night after Brother Raper on ' Repentance.' 

" Wednesday, 23. — Yesterday and to-day God has visited my 
soul in a glorious manner. Truly I have rejoiced before him. 
It is a baptism of the Spirit. I would record it to the honor 
of his grace and compassion. Lord, I was unworthy of a visit 
from thee ; but thou hast not refrained for my vileness. How 
hast thou made my soul to swell with the bliss of knowing thee, 



330 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



and dwelling in thee, my God and Saviour. thou blessed 
one, stay and dwell in ine forever. 

' Tis heaven to rest in thine embrace, 
And nowhere else but there.' 

4 Lord, I am thine ! 1 * 

" Xenia, November 23, 1848. 

" To Mrs. P. Palmer, — There is only one way in which we 
can safely look upon our trials, and that is with study and 
prayer to God, that they may 'work the peaceable fruits of 
righteousness. 1 The moment we begin to view them in the 
light of grievances, inflicted by the wicked, the erring pious, 
or by Satan even, without a wise design on God's part, we shall 
find the sky getting overcast and sunlight disappearing. Let 
us fix our eye on the end, the fruits, the ' peaceable fruits.' 

" I hope and believe, nay, may venture to say know, that 
your eye will discern the ' form of the Fourth ' in the furnace 
of this trial. As to harm, 4 who shall be able 1 if ye be ' follow- 
ers of that which is good.' Holiness is a chief good — supreme, 
everlasting. It is worthy to be followed [practiced] by the 
great God himself, and is it not good for us to follow it, both 
for fruition in ourselves, and for the highest interest of others ? 
'Follow peace with all men, and holiness.' What a coupling 
of themes is here ? As to peace, we follow it by first seeking in 
humble conference to rectify wrong done or intended us by the 
erring or the mischievous, and then, if we succeed or not, cast- 
ing the subject from our thoughts, except when on our knees 
we plead for blessings on both our benefactors and malefactors, 
till our gushing hearts of love and charity embrace them both. 
Forgive me when I say, you, my sister, needed trials. God saw 
and sent them. Not that he inspired the agents to do you 
wrong, but they, being blinded or mischievous, as the case may 
be, were not hindered by divine power from enacting this part 
toward you. Let them curse, but bless thou. 

" Have you considered what a variety of care and appliances 
are necessary to train a child, its various mental aptitudes and 
powers, its tempers, and the tout ensemble which makes up char- 
acter? Suppose the training were all of body, or of mind, or of 
heart, one, and only one, out of the three. What a failure would 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 331 



that be ! God, our Father, makes no such mistakes. He trains 
the whole saint. Every power and susceptibility is educated 
for heaven. 

" Since I wrote the above paragraph I have had fresh evi- 
dence that a conflict impends over us in regard to the doctrine 
of holiness. But this will be glorious in its results. When did 
pure religion gain conquests without previous conflicts ? When 
no war wages, no victories await her. If her foes are still, it is 
because her friends are idle. ' Let them curse, but bless thou.' 
I have wondered to-day, why it is that we do not more fully 
rely on these words : 4 They that trust in the Lord shall never 
be confounded.' If not one 'jot or tittle' of his word can fail, 
then to trust in God is to secure an infallible immunity from all 
real harm. The words which I addressed to Bishop Hedding 
some two years ago, and which seemed to him so strangely full 
of comfort, were, ' Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and 
not be afraid; the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; 
he also is become my salvation.' ' What wonderful words those 
are ! ' said he, when I next met him ; and began to explain and 
dwell upon them in a manner which showed that he had made 
a very thorough use of them in experience. 

11 November 25. — Two days have passed since I commenced, 
and now I hope to finish. These have been great days to me. 
The Lord creates peace, and he has surely carried on the work 
of [this] creation in my soul for a few days past. I have now 
no regular homily to write, but feel a peace passing all under- 
standing, which, not being able to make readable on paper, I 
mention for your edification. Be not discouraged. ' In due 
season ye shall reap' is the promise. But God seems to you 
better than the promise, for you are reaping daily, yea, all the 
time. Your harvests thicken on you so fast that you can 
scarcely sow for the abundance of reaping. A boy was har- 
vesting his father's grain, and found a wasp's nest in the corner 
of the field. He fled to his father to know what he should do, 
who said : ' My child, let them alone and go on with the reap- 
ing.' He obeyed, and the harvest was gathered in safety. 

" What a harvest is before us ! What fields are now whiten- 
ing all around us ! I lose my fears and lose myself in the 



332 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



prospect. Glory be to God ! I seem to hear the Saviour from 
the midst of the golden candlesticks say to us, ' Be thou faith- 
ful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.' " 

" Xknia, Sunday, 26. — This Sabbath morning was com- 
pelled to decline going out to meeting on account of a chronic 
difficulty. But it has been a day of great peace and quiet. 
God has helped me, and given me refreshments in my chamber. 
I bless his holy name. The last week has been one of great 
victories. I trust I may never forget what mercy God has 
showed me the last week. Yet such is my brutish nature that, 
unless he save me, I shall forget. I cannot trust my own heart 
for anything. Like Israel, who bowed down to the idol under 
the very shadows of the burning mount, if God do not hold 
and guard me, no manifestations of his mercy will suffice to 
detain me in his service and worship. Surely I have had 
abundant experience of this in twenty years since he first sought 
and found and saved me. may I so cleave to the blessed God 
as to experience 1 The Lord is thy keeper — the Lord is thy shade 
upon thy right hand.' I give myself to thee afresh and for 
evermore. 

" Monday, 27. — After all, was able to get out last evening, 
and preach with great comfort to a small congregation. ' Bless 
the Lord, O my soul ! ' 

"Friday, December 1. — This day and yesterday the Lord's 
face does not shine upon me as for a week previously. He ha3 
taken me up into the mount. Must I descend again to the 
vale below ? Lord, go with me, and even there, according to 
thy word, may thy rod and thy staff comfort me. I leave here 
in a day or two for a year's excursion to labor in God's cause. 

" Saturday, 2. — This morning a letter from Rev. C. W. Sears 
notified Mrs. H. of the near approach of his wife, Angeline, to 
the gates of Paradise. God has clothed her with salvation as 
with a garment, made her ready as a bride adorned for her 
husband, and her triumphs are said, in the letter, to be inexpress- 
ible. My dear wife has gone to spend the Sabbath with them 
in Cincinnati. Probably it will be Mrs. Sears's last earthly Sab- 
bath. May God bless the dying scene to her many unconverted 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 333 



friends, and to the parents, who are walking in the narrow way. 
Death is near. O to be ready, fully ready ! 

" Cincinnati, Monday, 11. — I have spent three days here. 
Preached at Bethel. Mr. Leavitt, a young lawyer of remarka- 
ble promise, went with me, and last evening came to my room 
deeply convicted. I was surprised, but had earnestly prayed 
for him during the day. He had a cause to argue this morn- 
ing. Said if he did argue it, as he intended, it would wound 
his conscience. I told him he must not wound his conscience, 
cost what it might. This morning I trembled for him. But he 
went and laid over the cause, betook him to his office with the 
Bible, and there at eleven o'clock experienced religion — was 
powerfully saved. 

" Tuesday, 12. — This afternoon Mrs. Leavitt, the daughter of 
Mr. Brooks, experienced religion, or was reclaimed, as the case 
may be. At four o'clock both of the young converts gave me 
their names for probation, and I administered to them the sac- 
rament of the Lord's Supper at the death-bed of their happy 
sister, Mrs. Sears. O what a season ! God was there ! Such 
triumphs as this dying saint exhibits are enough to inspire 
louder songs in heaven. And her raptures at the sight of these 
new-born souls were inexpressible. These two or three days of 
wonders my soul cannot forget. Praise God forever! Even 
for ever and ever. Amen ! 

" Thursday, 14. — This morning left Mr. Brooks's, and am ready 
to start to Marietta. Mrs. Sears still alive, and full of holy tri- 
umph. Mr. and Mrs. L. pressing on their way. What a change ! 
Scarcely have I seen its equal. He says he can never practice 
law. May the Spirit guide him ! 

"Point Harmer, Saturday morning, 16. — Reached here at 
two o'clock this morning. Found Jacob Young absent. His 
family well. Here are the friends who helped me to Christ. 
Mother Kent, eighty-two years old, is still in all her senses and 
understanding clear. O Lord, I praise thee for this privilege ! 

" Sunday, 17. — Preached at half past ten A. M. in Marietta, 
at two P. M. visited and addressed the Sabbath-school, and 
preached at half past six P. M. in Point Harmer. A precious 
day to my own soul, but fear no mighty works were done 



334 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



among the people. O my God, help me to be meek, patient, 
humble, and faithful ! Thou knowest all my trials, both as to 
my personal state at times, and as to thy great work committed 
to me always. In all these matters, O my God, I cast myself, 
as well as my work, on thee, through Jesus Christ ! 

"Zanesville, Thursday, 21. — Reached here on Tuesday. 
Have had much perplexity. I have had. a specimen of the 
morals of Universalism. 4 Cursed is the man that trusteth in 
man.' The Bible is true. 

"Pittsbukgh, Monday, 25. — Reached here on Saturday. 
Expected to find Mrs. H. She came in the night, but landed 
on Sabbath morning. I regret it, but she was not to blame. 
Preached on Sabbath at Liberty-street, and to-day dedicated 
the new Smithfield Church at half past ten A. M. Brother 
Kenney preached at three P. M., and Birkett at night." 

"Pittsburgh, Pa., December 28, 1848. 

"To Rev. C. W. Seaks, — Yours of the 18th is just received; 
and. as I am about to start for Washington, Pa., to be gone 
three or four days, I commence a letter which Mrs, H. must 
finish. I desire to write to Mr. Leavitt and to Brother Brooks, 
but under some pressing engagements I can now address but 
one of the family ; and your case among the afflicted is liable 
to be the most trying and distressing. Others are wounded, 
but the blow comes to no other heart as it comes to yours. 
Others must greatly need gracious supports, but you above all. 

" By all means, my brother, see that the rod and the staff of 
the almighty Comforter be your support, as they have been. 
Nature can do nothing for you now. Reason — philosophy can 
do nothing. The ' Comforter' can do all. The Spirit loves to 
work where and when nature fails. But you know his efficacy, 
and all you need is to entertain by faith the heavenly guest. 
You will, of course, and I perceive do, intend to be comforted. 
That is right ; for such intention harmonizes with the Spirit's 
aim and office in our hearts. It is co-operating with the Com- 
forter. For if he would comfort us, and we volunteer difficul- 
ties and hinderances in his way, he will be grieved. He strives 
to comfort, and we should strive with him to be comforted. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: FIFTH YEAR. 335 



" Blessed be God for such consolations. First, the death of 
the departed is a coronation, which must needs come after such 
conquests and triumphs as angels may wonder to behold. Here 
is consolation; yet its influence to console us depends on the 
work of the Divine Comforter himself in our hearts, without 
which we cannot derive from the joy of friends in death the 
delights and assuaging which such triumphant dying ought to 
afford. All our comfort, therefore, in such sad bereavements, 
must be from the Holy Spirit. 

" Permit me to suggest, that it will be an auxiliary relief to 
the threatened sense and pain of loneliness, to throw yourself 
with all your might into God's work ; as though the Church at 
the ' Bethel ' were now your only care, and what attentions and 
sympathies you previously shared with the society and Ange- 
line, now, all and unmixedly, revert to the former. You will 
often feel that in this you are doing just what her spirit's voice, 
could you hear it, would exhort you to do. You will often feel 
that you are nearer in close resemblance of employment to her 
while moving meekly and with holy zeal from house to house in 
your charge, to warn, admonish, and comfort others, than you 
could be in any other posture or employment. She moves on 
spirit wings swiftly to do God's errands, and why not in your 
very pathway at times. You will move more tardily, encum- 
bered with clogs from which she wonders to find herself free. 
But your work and hers is the same : to love, praise, and serve 
God, the Maker and Redeemer. 

" Your notice of the dear children, the scene of Angeline's 
apostleship, afTected us much. O may they run (as they truly 
have begun to do) ' and not be weary.' Should they ' go on 
unto perfection' without halting, it would be a glorious wonder 
and consummation. The case of Mr. Leavitt is one of the most 
affecting within my observation; so peculiar, that he has just 
as much occasion as Paul had to cry, 'Lord, what wilt thou 
have me to do ? ' " 

" Pittsburgh, Pa., December 28, 1848. 
" To M. Brooks, Esq., — It often falls to our lot to grieve and 
rejoice over the same event. Yet it seems to me that your case 
is unusual, in having so deep a grief and joy flow in on your 



336 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



heart from one single fountain. Christians must suffer; for 
through much tribulation we must ' enter into the kingdom of 
heaven.' But we have two advantages. Our sufferings are 
relieved and often sweetened by religion, while we feel the 
pressure of them ; and then it is scarcely doubtful that greater 
tribulation would not overtake us in the sinner's path. If it be 
hard through much tribulation to enter into the kingdom of 
heaven, how much harder it must be, through still greater trib- 
ulation, to enter into the kingdom of darkness ; to crown a life 
of trouble with an eternal retribution of anguish and despair. 

" You and yours are afflicted ; but the sorrow must be little 
in comparison with the joy. You have buried one child ; but 
three or four other children, who were dead, have been raised to 
life. The deceased child has only been raised from a lower to 
a higher and perfect life, and with her advancement your other 
children have been raised up to sit together in the heavenly 
place vacated by their sainted sister. How wonderful and glo- 
rious are all these changes ! The advancement and coronation 
of one whose death you mourn, has drawn after it, as a connected 
sequence, if not in some sense as an effect, the resurrection of the 
dead in your family circle. Sometimes a profligate child dies 
in despair, and his brethren sin on. A worldly sinner dies in 
his purple, and his brethren press on after his fatal example. 
That is affliction. For a serious parent to see one child die in 
despair or blaspheming God, and his brethren pass on unmoved 
to the same infernal destiny, is indeed heartrending. But your 
case is wonderfully different. The dead are gone with hallelu- 
iahs to heaven, and the surviving turned by her death-bed jubi- 
lations toward heaven." 

"Friday morning, 29. — Preached last evening in basement 
of Smithfield-street. A 'good time.' Hope some good was 
done. The Lord be praised, who only doeth it." 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 337 



CHAPTER XV. 
episcopal labor: sixth year. 

"Washington, Penn., January 1, 1849. — Here I am, com- 
mencing another year. Yesterday I tried solemnly to dedicate 
my life, family, and estate to God more fully than I had ever 
done. O my God, accept me for Christ's sake ! The cholera 
is abroad fearfully, and in New Orleans is a mighty destroyer. 
But I would act from love, not from servile fear. 

' Here, Lord, I give myself away, 
'Tis all that I can do.' 

" I preached twice yesterday. At night with great com- 
fort; but the dedication hour was not so pleasant. Am at 
the parsonage with Brother Birkett's family, and have re- 
tirement. 

"Pittsburgh, Wednesday, 3. — Reached Brother Greer's at 
two P. M., having come from Cannonsburgh where I preached 
last night to many sophomores. "We succeeded beyond all hope 
in raising $80 for the Church. "Was glad to reach home. Lord 
bless us ! 

" Monday, 8. — Preached yesterday morning in ' Beaver-street,' 
Alleghany, and in the evening at South Common. Had a 
comfortable season. Am now at the house of Brother Parker. 
His brother-in-law and wife in deep distress; the latter, how- 
ever, having obtained some comfort. 

" Greensburgh, Pa., Sunday evening, 14. — Preached this 
morning to a small congregation, which came through the mud 
and mire to listen. Had comfort in my own soul. Christ 
spoke to my heart, while I tried to speak to theirs. O how 
wonderful the theme, ' Christ's dying love !' Blessed God, give 
me to understand more of the mystery which angels desire to 
look into ! Christ's dying love ! O Holy Spirit, write h on my 



338 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



heart ! Let it be life and power to my spirit. O that I could 
speak of it aright ! O that I could meditate on it aright ! Par- 
don my dullness, and quicken my mind and heart, O Lord, that 
I may comprehend this theme with all thy saints, and to thy 
name shall be the glory. In the evening had a season of com- 
fort in the pulpit. Lord, I resign all to thee. 

" M'Connellstown, Pa., Wednesday, 17. — Left Greensburgh 
on Monday evening, traveled through the night and all the 
next day, stopping here at six o'clock last evening. Had agree- 
able company in the coach — a pious Methodist lady, Mrs. G. 
of Columbus, Captain Baker from Sandusky, and now and 
then a way passenger for a few miles. Among the last was 
Dr. M'Calla, a venerable minister of the Presbyterian Church, 
with whom we took sweet counsel. He wept, and we all wept, 
while we talked about Jesus. Preached this evening to a 
moderate assembly, but had comfort in doing so. Am now 
staying with Brother Thomas Greathead. 

"St. Thomas or Camelstown, Pa., Friday, 19. — Reached 
the pleasant dwelling of Brother Shade last evening at half 
past ten o'clock, and found them waiting for us. A Christian 
welcome and comfortable entertainment. Spent the day in 
writing, and to-night have preached to a good attentive con- 
gregation. ' Praise God ! ' 

" Mercersburgh, Pa., Monday, 22. — Came to this place on 
Saturday and put up with Brother M'Connell, who is left a 
widower, with a large family of children to care for. Here is 
the German Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. N. at its 
head has become a great man. Great in a way that any man 
of considerable art and learning can (by pursuing it) become 
great. He is great in theological eccentricities. 

"Preached twice yesterday, and had some of these people 
and professors out to hear me. Felt Christ's presence. Spent 
this day in visiting, conversing, and praying with several aged 
members of the Church. 

" St. Thomas, Tuesday, 23.— Returned to Brother Shades's 
this morning, and reached here at eleven A. M. A delightful 
ride along the base of the highest mountains. Conversed with 
the driver, a mulatto, and gave him a Testament on parting 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: SIXTH YEAR, 



339 



with him. He said lie would 4 try ' to seek religion. Lord, help 
him for Christ's sake, and save him. 

" Friday, 26. — Last evening preached to a serious congrega- 
tion. Brother Griffith exhorted. This morning, in a family 
prayer meeting, the preacher, Brother Lloyd, experienced perfect 
love. The mother of Mrs. Shade has found Christ since we 
came here. Now we must leave this very pleasant pious family. 
I have preached twice here, once in London, six miles west, and 
have seen some good accomplished. The Lord hath wrought 
it. Thou knowest, O blessed Master, my unworthiness, and 
how unfit I am to serve thee ! Help me, O help me ! Mrs. H. 
labors in private more efficiently than I do in public. 

" Chambersburgh, Pa., Monday, 29. — Reached here on Fri- 
day the 26th, and took lodgings with Judge Eyster. Preached 
yesterday twice and had comfort, and hope the word was 
not in vain. Here is a strong society, an excellent church 
edifice, many sanctified souls, and many more pursuing 
perfect love. This family is pious, and of the old stamp of 
Methodists. 

" Shippensburgh, Pa., Wednesday, 31. — Reached here this 
morning, and took lodgings with Sister Duncan, a pious 
widow — a 'widow indeed.' Preached this evening to a full 
house. Had some comfort and aid. Had appointments made 
for Sabbath. 

"Friday, February 2. — Just returned from Newville, nine 
miles east, where I attempted to preach last night; but my 
fatigue on reaching the place (liaving to walk a full mile to 
my lodgings from the railroad, three quarters of it through 
mud) entirely exhausted me, and then having to lie down to 
rest in a cold room, with no other place for devotion, by meet- 
ing time I was almost unable to sit up. But I talked an hour. 
On reaching the house I obtained the privilege of sleeping on 
a flock bed or pallet by the fire. Was taken dreadfully ill in 
the night, and have reached here with difficulty. I cannot ex- 
pose myself in this way again. 

" Carlisle, Pa., Tuesday, 6. — After preaching twice at Ship- 
pensburgh on the Sabbath, I took leave of our kind friend Mrs. 
Elizabeth Duncan, and on yesterday morning reached this 



340 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



place, and put up at Dr. J. T. Peck's, president of the college. 
This is a beautiful place — a charming spot for a college. The 
mountains show beautifully rather than sublimely on the west, 
and high hills, almost mountains, skirt the east. The college 
buildings are in the west entrance of the town, and show, in the 
midst of the Campus, to great advantage. About one hundred 
and fifty students now attend recitations, which indicates that 
the new faculty are acceptable. What shall be the religious 
influence of this and all our schools, is becoming a great ques- 
tion. The Lord grant that they may not bring in pride and 
forgetfulness of him in whom we have strength ! 

" Friday, 9. — Have been very unwell for three or four days. 
Not able to see company to-day. Great dizziness, and at times 
to-day my senses almost gone. 

" Monday, 12. — Much weakness of the chest, but much com- 
fort of soul yesterday in preaching Christ and the way of salva- 
tion. Blessed be God for all his goodness. On Saturday even- 
ing in secret prayer he began to baptize me for the Sabbath. 
How brightly the Sun of Righteousness then arose upon me, 
and how healing were his beams. I gave myself afresh to 
Christ, in the full confession of my unworthiness, and claiming 
the promise, ' If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to 
forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteous- 
ness.' " 

" Mechanicsburgh, Pa., February 16, 1849. 
" To Rev. L. Swokmstedt, — Since I wrote last we have had 
a laborious but delightful time of journeying and pausing in the 
towns and villages of Pennsylvania. Our last stop was in Car- 
lisle, where we had a precious season with the friends of Christ. 
We stayed more than a week with Dr. J. T. Peck, and got both 
soul and body refreshed, as both were worn down by labor and 
exertion. I had preached almost every night the previous 
week, and had a slight touch of my old complaint in conse- 
quence, so that I only preached twice while there, but attended 
other meetings, and addressed the students in the college 
chapel. The institution is flourishing. We left Carlisle this 
morning and are now (Friday) located for three or four days to 
spend the Sabbath, and then go on to Harrisburgh, Lancaster, 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 341 



and Philadelphia, which last I expect to reach about the first 
of March, not having passed on as rapidly as I thought to do 
when I wrote last." - 

"Monday, February 19. — Preached twice yesterday and at- 
tended one class-meeting. Had a comfortable day, but I fear 
little fruit will follow. A funeral service lessened the congre- 
gation, and the people returning from it came in late. Tried 
to be faithful to the Church, to whom my sermons were ad- 
dressed. Maybe was severe in manner, though my heart was 
unusually filled with love. 

"Lancastek, Friday, 23. — Reached here yesterday at four 
P. M., and met Brother Urie at the cars. Took lodgings in his 
very pleasant family, and foimd a 4 pilgrim rest? Am quite 
unwell. Rested poorly last night, considering how pleasant a 
room and how downy a bed I had. My system is somehow 
disordered. My hard labor three weeks ago hurt me. I can 
do little now but preach on Sabbath. God reigns. I received 
about forty letters at M. and have them half answered. This 
hard writing tries me. So do the distresses of some of our sick 
ministers make me sick. Lord, pity them ! Brother Brenton of 
Fort Wayne, young and strong, is stricken down with paralysis. 
What shall I do ? Well may Bishop Waugh talk of ' stronger 
nerves.' They who think it a fine thing to be a bishop might 
discover a more desirable field after trying it a while. A circuit 
would begin to look lovely after a season. Lord, give us sup- 
porting grace ! " 

"Lancaster, Pa., February 23, 1849. 
"To Rev. H. Hickok, — Two letters from your hand dated 
May 26 and September 15, 1848, have just reached me. I glad- 
ly hasten to reply, regretting the delay of the former, which 
makes me seem late in responding to your interesting communi- 
cations. 

"I have felt much concern for your health, having learned 
that the climate affects you unfavorably, and restrains your act- 
ive efforts in some of the departments, at least, of missionary 
labor. But this ought not to weigh on your spirits, and I trust 
you will cheerfully and joyfully, by grace, resign the whole 



342 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



question of efficiency to the will of the great Master. He may- 
yet invigorate you, and if not, when the time shall come that 
the . members of the mission harmonize in the opinion which 
shall point you back to your native land, the Board will release 
and return you to your home. If there be a reasonable hope 
that you can do service there, doubtless it will be your desire to 
stay; but when the brethren all agree that there is little or 
almost no hope, they will join in so representing the case as to 
procure your recall. 

" Your last letter excited peculiar interest in my mind. It 
was an encouraging letter. I shall have much more hope of 
China, if it turns out that the gospel must be ' preached ' to the 
people. That is what Christ sent his ministers to do, and the 
promise ' Lo, I am with you,' etc., is not, in my opinion, to be 
claimed, except by those who go and ' preach.' Literature is an 
accomplishment much to be desired; but its office is not to 
convert the world. A tolerable effort has been made already in 
that mode, without even the shadow of success. If the labors 
of our missionaries are to flow in such a direction, we shall soon 
learn the difference between original and derived Methodism — 
between God's ordinance and human substitutes therefor. And 
in this I do not intend, for a moment, to set aside literature, 
or to suggest that any of the converted tribes or nations shall 
or ought to be without literature. Religion will create letters 
where they are not, and new create where they are, as in China. 
But Christianity in its life or being must go before Christianity 
in its ornaments, or its indirect but sure fruits. The child must 
first be born, then clothed and jeweled, if the fond parents will 
have it so. 

" I cannot speak positively where God has not spoken, but 
when he has uttered his voice I can hear, and say ' Amen.' The 
command is to preach. I know it is in another place ' teach,' 
but I consider this as generic, and the other as specific — as the 
mode in which God would have us accomplish the teaching. 
I trust that in this form Methodist missionaries will make full 
proof of their ministry. 

" I notice in one of your letters, that you incline to the opinion 
that proper itinerancy will not be the suitable plan in China. 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 



US 



The reason which you assign is plausible, and should receive 
serious attention." 

"Lancaster, Sunday, February 25. — Was not revived much, 
as I often am on Sabbath. Expected a baptism for the pulpit. 
Preached with little ardor. Yet my thoughts seemed unusually 
clear and flowing, with words at hand. Have some hope that 
God will bless the truth which I tried to deliver. But O how 
trying ! to get up and preach Christ without a glowing ardor. 

" Philadelphia, Monday, 26. — Reached here at three o'clcck. 
Took lodgings at J. J. Boswell's. His son John is just starting 
for California. Lord, help me to be faithful to him and to all, 
for Christ's sake ! 

" Monday, March 5. — Preached yesterday morning at Eben- 
ezer, and administered the Lord's Supper at three o'clock. 
Had a precious time at the sacrament. God's people were com- 
forted. In preaching, tolerable. At night in Trinity. Good 
congregation. Some power. Lord, purify Zion; try her as 
silver. This afternoon have had a delightful season in Sister 
Boswell's meeting. My heart cried, ' The best of all is, God is 
with us!' O Lord, bless thine handmaidens, and in them if 
thou pleasest be the Deborahs to bring deliverance to thy 
people. A great change here within two years. God, I believe, 
has made my poor wife, who goes trembling about her work, 
the instrument of this great change. Lord, may the light never 
go out in this dwelling ! ' Peace be on this house bestowed.' 
Work, Lord, and let none hinder thee. 

" Thursday, 8. — Preached this evening in Eighth-street for 
Brother Coombs. House below well filled. Many came to the 
altar ; acted as though they were almost persuaded to be Chris- 
tians. A good work there." 

" Philadelphia, March 10. 
" To Dr. P., — Mrs. H. thinks it well that I should drop you 
a line to say that we expect to be in New York on Tuesday, or 
at furthest on Wednesday evening next, probably the former. 
I have engaged to spend the succeeding Sabbath in Newark, 
N. J. This I mention that you may know I cannot preach in 
New York. Whether I shall start for Providence Conference 
the subsequent week I have not determined. 



344 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

"Mrs. H. and myself are in moderate health, much worn 
down by labor. The meetings are remarkably interesting 
here. Twelve persons, I understand, experienced perfect love 
at Mr. Longacre's on Tuesday P. M. I was not there. Mrs. H. 
thinks it was an unprecedented meeting. Brother R. was with 
them. 

" We greatly desire to see you. May it be a meeting with 
Christ and his disciples, and for a few days may we have much 
of his presence, and ' sit together in heavenly places,' if he 
please, on the mount. 

"I propose to leave Mrs. H. with you until I return from 
Providence Conference to meet the bishops in New Jersey." 

" Monday, 12. — (Mr. Boswell's.) Preached yesterday at 
Union and Fifth-street. Had some comfort ; indeed, a part of 
the day, much peace in Christ. Found him lifting up my head. 
My heart is toward thee, my adorable Saviour. Give me more 
of thyself this day. I hear that my friend and brother, Raper 
of Ohio, is at the point to die. Lord, prepare thy servant fully 
if it be thy pleasure to take him home! Many of Christ's 
ministers are being called away. In the Ohio Conference, 
Lakin and Morrow are already gone since their conference sat 
in September. Be pleased, O Lord, to raise up other laborers 
for the harvest ! 

" New York, Wednesday, 14. — (At Dr. Palmer's.) Reached 
here last evening at six P. M., having left Philadelphia at 
twelve M. A pleasant, safe journey, being brought on our way 
by the will of God. Lord, bless us here ! 

"Newark, N. J., Monday, 19. — Came over from New York 
on Saturday and preached here at Clinton-street and Halsey- 
street. At night a comfortable time in Halsey-street, but not 
so much strength, spiritually or physically, as I could desire. 
Had a pleasant visit at Brother Kidder's. An amiable and 
worthy family. Methodism is becoming strong here. The 
seminary is prosperous. 

"New York, Friday, 23. — Poor health and low comforts. 
I want strength. Lord, bestow on thy poor servant strength ! 
I will trust, O Lord, I will trust! Let me repeat, blessed 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 345 



Saviour, and have thee look and consider what I here record : 
4 1 will trust in the Lord ! ' 

" Tuesday, 27. — Spent the Sabbath in Paterson, K J. Had 
lodgings at Brother Jackson's, a fine worthy man and family. 
Preached twice. Brothers Monroe and Morrell are stationed 
here. Had a moderate time in preaching. A very stormy day. 
Fear little good was done. My poor health was in my way. 
The scenery on the Passaic here is exceedingly picturesque, 
and entertained me more than did the Falls of Niagara. 
In bad taste perhaps, but so it was. After I returned from 
Paterson was taken with influenza, but am better this even- 
ing, and hope it is checked. Have had much profitable 
discourse to-day with Brother and Sister P. Lord, bless for 
Christ's sake ! 

" Wednesday, 28. — Have received a gracious visit from my Lord. 
He was near in my chamber devotions. Felt a delightful re- 
cumbency of soul upon him. O what a season of restlessness 
I have had ! Lord, thou biddest the cup pass from me. I 
record thy goodness. After breakfast had a singularly profit- 
able conversation with Sister P. on the way of faith and my 
own sinful misgivings and unbelief — a throwing away of my 
shield as it were. I greatly hunger and thirst after thee, O 
God, my Rock and my salvation ! After a season of prayer, in 
which Mrs. P. and Mrs. H. wrestled earnestly, I withdrew with 
strength in my soul. Now, O Lord, wilt thou not seal me 
wholly and forever thine ! cleansed by thy Spirit, through 
faith in Christ Jesus ! Then will I teach transgressors thy 
ways." 

" To Brother Dubois, — Hurried as I am now by conference 
duties, and just about to start for one, which employs me in 
diligent preparations, I must take time to answer briefly your 
letter, which we were most happy to receive, and we learn from 
it how mercifully the Lord deals with you. Blessed be his 
holy name for ever for all his grace bestowed on you and 
yours ! And he is a never-failing Fountain ! Much as he has 
blessed, he has but just begun to give. He has oceans of 
blessings in reserve. He has yet only dropped upon us from 



346 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



his clouds. His gifts are, so far, as dews to the prepared 
showers, both of grace and glory, which he will soon send 
down upon us and upon his redeemed ones. Let us every 
hour wait (in high expectation) for these descending, over- 
flowing mercies. I trust your society is all alive, that they do 
not forget ' Christianity in earnest.' I trust those dear brothers 
and sisters, who gave such testimony for Christ, still testify. O 
it would be sad if our light should become darkness. How 
great would be that darkness ! Try to stir them up continu- 
ally. May your class be as the garden of the Lord ! Pray for 
me, for in my weighty duties I need prayer." 

" Pkovincetown, Cape Cod, Monday, April 2. — Did not 
preach yesterday. Administered the Lord's Supper at Russell- 
street Church. Left Boston at one o'clock in steamer and 
reached here at six P. M. 

" Friday, 6. — Providence Conference goes on rapidly. 

" Monday, 9. — Steamer Bay State. Am on the Sound, bound 
for New York. Left Provincetown at eight A. M., having read 
out the appointments at seven in the morning. Reached 
Sandwich at one P. M., and Fall River at half past six P. M. 
A conference of one hundred and twenty preachers finished 
in four days is new; but the brethren talked but little, and 
worked hard. I labored with all my powers. Preached twice 
on Sabbath and ordained five deacons and nine elders. Did 
not enjoy the conference, but some did. It is a calm sea, 
and this great vessel is almost as steady as the dwelling on 
shore. 

"Newakk, N. J., Monday, 16. — Preached twice yesterday. 
Had a poor time in the morning, and a small congregation. 
Feel better in mind. Lord, appear for me, for thou knowest 
all my sore troubles. May my faith never fail ! Help, O my 
God! 

" New Yobk, Tuesday, 17. — Bishops closed their meeting on 
Monday, and I came from Newark at seven o'clock. Feel 
blessed. Christ has come; my failing faith is strengthened. 
My soul springs up again. I believe. Lord, I bless thee for a 
great deliverance ! For four or five days thou hast been 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 347 



plucking my feet out of the net. Glory be to thy name ! I 
am thine, thou art mine. Now I commit my all to thee for 
ever ! How I bless thee for past and this present deliverance. 
I yield myself to all thy will this day. Save me now from 
unbelief. Save me. Let me die rather than doubt ! Lord, I 
am thine ! 

" Sunday, 22. — Preached this morning at Norfolk-street Church 
on ' He that believeth shall be saved.' I think I went into the 
pulpit in some measure willing to be 'little and unknown.' 
Went in more than usual dependence, and with a strong faith 
in God. The text was new, my preparation hasty — not much 
more than half an hour for meditation and arrangement — and 
I was often tempted to give it up and take another theme ; but 
I wanted to preach on this, and bless God that I did. He 
helped me to speak of faith, and I believe he helped the people 
to hear. I have, thanks be to God ! a growing faith. God has 
wrought in me within a few days. The word, the promises, 
are precious. I believe God is purifying my heart by faith. 
Amen, so let it be ! 

" Springfield, Mass., Tuesday, 24. — Left New York at eight 
A. M. yesterday (Monday) and reached here at two o'clock 
P. M. A pleasant journey. Mrs. H. with me. We are pleas- 
antly accommodated by our Saviour's care, and can say, (how 
unworthy to feel and know it,) ' the best of all is, God is with 
us.' Praise the Lord, my soul ! I have been learning new 
lessons, for two days, concerning faith. How vital its influence ! 
Through it, by the Holy Spirit, God's word becomes 'quick 
and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing 
even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit.' Thus is his 
word to me now." 

" Springfield, Mass., May 2. 
" To Db. and Mrs. P., — Our faith does not fail. Christ is 
precious. He holds us with his powerful hand. Praise his 
name ! 

" New England Conference is over. Very peaceable, and I 
hope some advancement. 

" Mrs. H. has been very busy with the Congregational sisters, 
and two of them profess to have received perfect love. Meth- 



348 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



odists were too busy in taking care of ministers to see her 
much. Several were in this P. M. Prevented her writing to 
Sister P., as she intended to do. I am worn down with con- 
ference duties. 

"Pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free 
course and be glorified ; that our faith may not fail ; that the 
conferences may be blessed, and that holiness may be spread 
i over these lands.' " 

" Lebanon, Iff. H., May 4. — Left Springfield yesterday, where 
we were most kindly and pleasantly entertained by Mr. Eli 
M'Intyre and his pious wife, (the Lord bless, sanctify, and save 
them !) and came in the cars one hundred and eighty miles to 
this place, where we stay with Brother G. W. H. Clark, an 
excellent brother stationed here. Our conference at Springfield 
closed at twelve M. on Tuesday, five and a half days. It was 
pleasant. No deaths or difficult cases in either this or Provi- 
dence Conferences the last year. Our journey hither was by 
Worcester, Groton, Nashua, Concord, Franklin, and Canaan, 
and half of it through the rudest region of rocks and pines 
and barren knobs which it was ever my happiness to behold. 
Here, five miles from the Connecticut River, it begins to look 
fair. This is a village of perhaps one hundred houses. Saw 
snow several times on the mountains. 

"Lancaster, N. H., Wednesday, 9. — Reached here yesterday at 
one P. M., having left Lebanon on Monday, and lodged, from 
there (forty miles by railroad, and twenty by stage) sixty miles, 
at Littleton, in a comfortable room. The road from Littleton 
twenty miles was bad. We had two coaches with four and six 
horses, the former with twelve and the latter with sixteen 
preachers. It broke down, but all escaped unhurt. The 
village here is as large as Sharon or Norwich, Ohio, and 
pleasant, with mountains one thousand five hundred or two 
thousand feet high on the south and east. I had a pleasant 
day yesterday, and in the morning especially felt that God was 
with me. Had sweet communion with him in the closet, before 
breakfast, in company with Brother G. W. H. Clarke, who 
lodged with me. Praise to Jesus ! " 



EPISCOPAL LABOE: SIXTH YEAR. 349 



" Thuesday Morning, May 10, 1849. 

" To Mrs. H., — I write, this morning, a few lines, because 
when I come out of conference I have to hurry to get my letter 
into the office. I am well this morning. Heard the ' confer- 
ence sermon' last night. Written and talented, but not in 
good taste ; would do well for a Congregational minister in a 
theological and religious point of view. A great want of men 
here. Preachers can hardly stand up to sing, and cannot kneel 
to pray. Here is degeneracy, both in spirit and form, from 
Methodism. No altar here in the Methodist church. They 
left it out for more seats to rent. I asked them what they do 
in revivals. They said they had never had one since the church 
was built. No wonder. 

" This is my birthday. I feel solemn. Fifty-two years clean 
gone for ever. What years ! May they make an end of sin. I 
have a good fire burning and a pleasant chamber. Within 
twenty feet of its east windows, a stream, larger than in 
Lebanon, gurgles along beautifully, with a constant bass or 
semi-bass, provoking me to praise. I feel peace. I will try to 
be faithful. 

"Friday, 11. — We had a remarkably pleasant day in confer- 
ence. Business is going on rapidly and delightfully. I am 
perfectly well. Several brethren are here from Vermont Con- 
ference, and want me to visit them. Inclosed is a letter from 
Sister Palmer. She conquers. I hope it will be a comfort to 
you." 

" Lancaster, N. H., Saturday Morning, May 12, 1849. 
"To Mrs. H., — The conference has proceeded pleasantly. 
I feel blessed this P. M. Faith is strong and comfort 
strong. 

" Your two letters came to-day, and brought blessings with 
them. 

" I wrote the above last evening and added the date above 
this morning. I think we shall close on Monday P. M. We 
are nearly through, all but the reports, which generally take 
one day. I allow a day and a half. I have not hurried any, 
but business seems to melt away remarkably. A good spirit 
prevails, I think. Little exhortations seem to do good. I had 



350 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



a good P. M. yesterday. I shall write a line at noon and 
decide about my way to New York. I believe we will not 
stop at Springfield. 

" Saturday, 7ialf past eleven A. M. — I have concluded to go 
by the Notch and Concord. We will stay at Concord over 
night. You will please leave Lebanon in the first train of cars 
on Tuesday and stop at Concord, where I shall meet you as 
soon as you reach there." 

"Sunday, 13. — Have just returned from meeting. A good 
and glorious Sabbath. Love-feast this morning, one of the 
very best. The power of God was there. A comfortable time 
in the sacrament, and power in ordaining the two deacons. 
Brother Perkins preached this P. M. a good sermon, and four 
elders were ordained. My gracious Redeemer, how has thy 
love burned in my heart this day ! Praised be thy name for 
ever and ever ! Amen ! 

" Lebanon, N. H. — Left Lancaster, where I was kindly en- 
tertained by Harvey Adams, on Monday noon, New Hampshire 
Conference having sat four and a half days. Reached here at 
eleven A. M. to-day and found Mrs. H. well. Here she stayed 
with Hon. E. Blaisdell more than a week. The people here 
have showed us kindness. Praise God for his mercies ! * Thou 
hast been my help ; leave me not, neither forsake me, O thou 
God of my salvation ! ' 

" New York, Thursday, 17.— (At Dr. P.'s.) Left Lebanon 
on "Wednesday and reached here this morning by Nashua and 
Norwich railroad and steamboat. A safe journey. 4 The Lord 
is my Shepherd.' 

"Monday, 21. — My labors press heavily on my strength. 
Had to be excused to-day and get out in the open air. The 
examination of the hymn book is heavy business. Lord, help 
thy servants ! And when the work is finished may thousands 
exult to sing thy praises in its evangelical lines. Preached on 
Sabbath morning in Seventh-street. Was feeble in body, but 
comfortable in soul. This evening the New York Monthly 
Meeting" for the Promotion of Holiness was held in the Allen- 
street Church close by. Mrs. H. and the family are there. 



EPISCOPAL labor: sixth year. 351 



The Lord bless his people, and make his Church holy for 
Christ's sake ! " 

" New Yokk, May 25, 1849. 

"To Rev. L. Swormstedt, — I am but poorly. My left 
side is much of the time like the foot ' asleep,' if you know 
what that is. My work this spring has been severe. If you 
have a map of the states, just run your pencil from New York 
to Provincetown, on Cape Cod, and back to New York, thence 
to Springfield, Mass., and to Lancaster, N. H., near the Canada 
line, and back to New York, and you will see what journeys I 
have taken to reach my conferences and get back twice to 
meet the bishops. It has kept me constantly engaged, almost 
without a day's rest, for nearly two months ; and I know not 
which is the hardest, sitting in conferences and cabinets, trav- 
eling day and night, or working with the bishops. "We have 
just finished the hymn book, and to-morrow I start to the Troy 
Conference, thence, right back almost to where the New Hamp- 
shire sat, to the Vermont Conference, and then incline westward 
to the Oneida and Michigan, if I live. 

"Just now the cholera is represented as subsiding among 
you. May God stay the scourge ! " 

" Sandy Hill, Troy Conference, Monday, 28. — Having 
my lodgings with Esquire Northrup, a lawyer lately converted, 
I find an extra motive to labor after a godly walk. Bishop 
Hedding is here. Conference goes heavily. Preached yester- 
day in the grove to about two thousand souls. This is a 
delightful spot; but in the midst of conference business I 
have little enjoyment. Ministers are wanting to fill the work. 
Lord, pity thy Zion ! Dr. and Mrs. P. are here. What a 
heavenly influence they bear with them ! To-day they return 
to New York, and may God spare them amid the pestilence ! 
O save thy people, and bless thine heritage ! 

"Burlington, Vt., June 11. — Reached here on Saturday. 
Had a precious day yesterday. Preached twice. Christ was 
verily present. In the evening heard Brother Caughey preach 
a pleasant, plain, practical sermon. There is piety here. Lord, 
fan the flame, and spread it abroad for Christ's sake. Amen ! " 



852 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"To Rev. J. Young, — Your most welcome letter has just 
reached me, and I sit down to read and answer it, fatigued 
with a long ride over the mountains as I am, because after to- 
day my conference duties will so press on me as to prevent. 
One of your letters I entirely lost, and this is the first I have 
received since I parted with your worthy family last December. 

" Your words are in the spirit of a charity and personal con- 
fidence toward me which I do not think I can claim. I had 
forgotten that I differed from you in regard to the Gollege 
loan, and but for one thing, would say at once that I am 
wrong and foolish in daring to hold my opinion in spite of 
yours. That one thing is, that I have seen one operation of the 
kind in New England, and one in Indiana, mature into the 
almost absolute ruin of the two institutions, from which ruin 
they were both saved by the most desperate efforts to replace 
the borrowed funds by new subscriptions. But in both cases, 
if I do not wholly misconceive, it was granted on all hands, that 
the funds borrowed were merely just so much expended con- 
trary to the conditions of the subscription, just as I supposed, 
and, sincerely begging pardon for the apprehension, fear now 
would have been the case, had your conference made the loan 
in question a commended measure of the trustees. 

"As to Brother Sutherland, I did not suppose my dear Brother 
Young had given any particular opinion, only as he wished to 
relieve the brother of any embarrassments which his commend- 
able relish for science might involve. But here I feel a necessity 
to be laid on me to speak freely, and throw myself on your 
magnanimity in the doing of it. Let me say, then, that if you 
could pass over our whole work, and learn its condition as I do 
in the stationing rooms of the annual conferences, I have the 
fullest conviction that you would see eye to eye with me on 
this subject; but, in the haste of letter communication, I must 
sum up all by saying, if the practice of giving to students of 
our colleges, and to professors and school-teachers, regular 
appointments in our work be not withstood, in twenty years 
from this time we shall not have half a dozen men in some con- 
ferences, who are not teaching schools or academies on their 
stations, or attending colleges or academies, or are professors in 



EPISCOPAL LABOR. : SIXTH YEAR. 



353 



theological seminaries or universities, or are employed as mer- 
chants, or saddlers, or doctors, or lawyers, or in some other lucra- 
tive avocation where they have their pastoral charge ! I wish 
my dear Brother Young could see and hear what I have seen 
and heard this year. I am sure if he had, he would be as cau- 
tious of encouraging a Methodist traveling preacher to go to 
college (without locating) as he would of opening a 1 crevasse ' 
in the Mississippi, nay, more so. Here I leave it ; but if I live 
to see you, will tell you much more. Verbum sat. 

" I love you, my dear old first friend — father — more than I 
can express, but I love Zion more; and for her sake let me 
exhort you to exhort the young men who have vowed to do so, 
to ' give themselves wholly to God and his work.' 

"Pray for us, as we always do remember you. We have 
hard times, as to labor. I am so worn down now by the hard 
toils of spring and summer that I often think I cannot get 
through the year. But I have comfort in the midst of toil. 
Jesus is precious ! " 

"Peacham, June 18. — Eeached here on Saturday, having 
come by stage to Montpelier, and spent two nights there, 
preaching on Friday to about twenty-five persons at the seat of 
government, in the midst of a society of one hundred Method- 
ists ! Put up with good Brother Scott, who thinks Methodism 
is sinking in Vermont. Here, on yesterday, I preached twice. 
Once to the children, and had a good time, though I saw a 
love-feast in the morning with no door-keepers, which is here a 
uniform practice ! " 

June 20. — To Rev. L. Swormstedt : " I have intrusted my soul 
to Christ, and he takes care of it every day, and makes my peace 
to abound like a river . . . and cannot I yield all other worldly 
interests to him ? Yes ; blessed be his name forever ! 

" Mrs. H. is more feeble this summer than I ever knew her. 
It is well for us that we are in the White and Green Mountains 
so much this warm weather. But, my dear brother, we shall 
none of us die till our heavenly Father sees best, and then he 
can easily find the instrument. May he protect you all. I be- 
lieve we pray for you every day. We ask to be remembered." 



354 



LIFE OF BISHOP HA1ILIXE. 



■ l Pzi.cHAM, Vt., June 20, 1349. 

" To Dr. a>d Mrs. P., — Though conference has commenced, 
I employ a moment to say we have heard nothing from you 
since we parted. Whether you be sick or well, living or dying, 
is with us conjecture, hope, or fear, as the case may be. 

We reached here in safety on Saturday last, and had a pre- 
cious Sabbath. It is a very small village, and preachers have 
to go three miles and more to lodge. Conference met to-day, 
and we had a pleasant, prayerful session. We hope to close on 
Monday, reach Burlington on Thursday, and, perhaps, Troy on 
Saturday week. Thence we may go to Hillsdale. 

" Thursday morning. — Tour letter has just come. Thank 
God ! That Psalm (xci) I have wound around me as my shield 
long ago. It is strong armor, not fabled to be. (like Achilles's,) 
but is. forged in heaven. I must go to conference. Can you 
not meet us at some point in your excursion from the city ? I 
am growing in grace. Haste, adieu I I am already satisfied 
with long life.'' 

"Peacttam, Friday evening. 6 odock. — Closed Vermont Con- 
ference a few minutes since. Three days is the shortest confer- 
ence I have yet had. 

" Bup.les'gton, Thursday, 28. — Reached here yesterday 
through dust and fatigue. Praise God for his almighty 
goodness ! 

"Troy. Saturday. 30. — Reached here in safety. Cholera is 
prevailing in many places. Brother Moriarty dead. Several 
at the Springs. One death here this morning. Lord, prepare 
the dying, and save the living from sin. 

'•Hellsdale, N. T., Monday. July 2. — Spent Sabbath at 
Albany. Had a pleasant day, preaching in Hudson-street and 
at ; Garrettson. 5 Reached here at one o'clock and found all 
well. Praise God ! 

u Monday. 9. — Filled the place of the presiding elder here on 
Saturday and Sabbath. Preached three times in alL 

'•Trot, Friday, 13. — Reached here on Wednesday, and met 
Bishop Hedding. Dedicated the new church yesterday. O 
Lord, increase my faith ! 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 355 



"Schenectady, Monday, 16. — Reached here on Saturday, 
and stopped with Brother Ely. In the afternoon rode to Mr. 
Ford's, the nephew of Mrs. Hamline. Yesterday preached in 
Schenectady twice to good congregations, and came out again 
to Mr. Ford's. This is a good family — worthy Methodists. I 
wish we had more such. Two of their children are determined 
to find a Saviour. Bless God ! 

" Utica, Wednesday, 18. — Preached last evening in this beau- 
tiful city of fourteen thousand souls to a good congregation, 
and God blessed. 

"Brooklyn, Friday, 20. — Preached yesterday at Sauquoit, 
and a good brother brought us to-day, in his wagon, twenty 
miles to this place, to dedicate a small church. Put up here 
with Mr. Gordon, whose wife is a Methodist, and himself ' loveth 
our nation, and hath built us a synagogue.' 

"Norwich, M. Y., Sunday, 22. — Preached twice to-day in 
this beautiful village. Put up with Mr. Berry. A good home. 
Led class after ten o'clock service. May the Lord our God 
bless this people for Christ's sake ! 

" Oxford, Wednesday, August 1. — Closed to-day the Oneida 
Conference at half past twelve P. M., one among the best con- 
ference sessions I ever witnessed. God was with his ministers. 
There was among them a great hungering and thirsting after 
righteousness. O that all our conferences could be thus ! Bless 
the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits ! 

"Ithica, Monday, 6. — At Dr. Stevens's. Reached here, in 
company with Dr. Mills and Brother Moore, at two P. M. 
last Thursday. Preached yesterday in the Methodist and 
Dutch Reformed churches. Exceedingly warm, and though 
I felt well, preached with difficulty. This is a lovely place. 
Much piety here. Some devoted souls." 

"Ithaca, N. Y., August 7, 1849. 
"To Dr. and Mrs. P.,— Since we parted at Troy I have 
thought more of you than perhaps ever before, as placed in a 
position of very great religious responsibility, and where your 
words and acts will operate great effects on those around you. 
I have reflected with comfort on those words, 'The Lord 



356 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



is thy keeper ; the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.' 
And on those, 1 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved.' 

" Thanks be to God that he does keep you, and enable you 
to ' abound' in every good work. Pray that we may be kept, 
and may thus abound. The phrase 4 every ' good word, etc., 
implies variety ; and 1 abound ' implies a close attention to all. 
It involves the idea of enterprise, which I so shamefully lack 
(and so consciously) that I know not which way to betake my- 
self on account of it. Pressed down with conviction on this 
point, I find not the relief of expected amendment This is 
the more annoying, as your last letter speaks of the death 
of sinners in a way which makes me feel almost as though it 
were now a new revelation, and not an old truth with which I 
have long been familiar. I have been studying faith in God's 
promises until I had almost forgotten that I must have faith 
also in his threatenings. We parted at Troy, not as we shall 
meet next, if it be a meeting in heaven ; and we can overlook 
the parting for the hope of that meeting. It seemed a cold, 
indevout farewell, in which crowding business on our part 
scarcely left a chance for a Christian shake of the hand, and 
what is worse, a Christian union in prayer. Since then I have 
thought that business, even with presiding elders and Bishop 
Hedding, should not withhold me from God's altars in valedic- 
tory worship. But our concert need not depend on sight. We 
will meet daily. My heart is just as near to yours now as if 
you were both kneeling with me in this room. ? We are all one 
in Christ Jesus.' 

" I desire to write more, but many letters are due to corre- 
spondents on business. And this letter is hastily written, from 
the strong claims the work has upon me. But I venture it to 
provoke several from you, and, more than all, your prayers." 

"Candob, Thursday, 9. — Preached herewith some strength 
last evening in a large country house well filled below. Brother 
A. Judd is of the old stamp of Methodist preachers. His fam- 
ily well brought up and devout. A Saviour's love is shed 
abroad in their hearts. O that all the families of the earth 
were like this ! Earth would change to heaven. 



EPISCOPAL LABOK: SIXTH YEAR. 



357 



11 Owego, Monday f 13. — These kind friends brought us down 
from Candor on Thursday morning. Here we have been cher- 
ished. We have had all possible kindness shown us for Christ's 
sake. Preached twice yesterday. O Lord, revive thy work ! 

"Elmira, Monday, 20. — Reached here on Saturday, having 
spent two nights at Brother Agard's at Smithborough, and one 
at Brother Stone's in Factoryville, and preached in each place. 
Preached here also at half past ten A. M. A good week, and 
a good Sabbath. The Lord be praised. Amen ! 

"Elmira, K. Y. — Closed conference this evening at five 
o'clock. A rapid work. Appointments well received, but I have 
had poor health and poor comfort. Not so spiritual a confer- 
ence as Oneida. Had pleasant lodgings at Brother Huntley's. 

"Detroit, Monday, September 3. — Preached once yesterday 
with difficulty. Body feeble. Lord, help me for Christ's sake ! 
My trials this year are peculiar. ' for an overcoming faith ! ' 
Lord, I fly to thee ! Help me to fly. • 

"Adrian, Mich., Sunday, 9. — Preached this morning and 
ordained ten elders, besides eleven deacons in love-feast. Have 
had some light and comfort. The conference is not lively in its 
spiritual state, though some of the brethren are much devoted. 
The Michigan Conference is rather behind as a whole. They 
need in these regions a very devoted ministry. Great efforts are 
being made in behalf of education. The Lord grant that the 
good may be obtained without any associated evil. 

"Dayton, Ohio, Tuesday, 25. — Reached here last Friday. 
Conference is progressing lively. A good spirit. Bishop Waugh 
in good health. This is a noble body of men. Ordained eight 
elders and preached on Sabbath in Wesley Chapel. 

"Xenia, Friday, 28. — Reached here quite ill this evening. 
Feel in danger of sickness. Prayer is not so deep and sweet a 
communion with God as usual. O Lord, revive thy work in 
my heart ! 

"Friday, October 5. — Twenty-one years this day since I lay 
prostrate on the hearth, in a dear Methodist brother's sitting- 
room, crying for mercy. That night, I believe, my heart was 
changed, and the next morning I obtained the witness of the 
Spirit that I was adopted into the family of Christ. that I 



358 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



had been faithful all these following years. O Lord, thou hast 
blessed me with richest blessings outwardly and inwardly, giv- 
ing me often unspeakable joy in Christ. Seal me thine afresh 
this day, and make my heart rejoice. 

"My health is impaired. My disease in the chest seems to 
be progressing. I can now hardly write or do anything. My 
frame shakes with some strange inward pectoral commotion, as 
though my heart were clogged. I cannot expect to do much 
more but lie down and die. O that I may die in Christ ! 

' Happy, if with my latest breath 

I may but gasp bis name ; 
Preach bim to all, and cry in death, 
Behold, bebold tbe Lamb ! ' 

" Sunday, 7. — A storm without, but peace within. God bears 
to my heart this day the blessings of the Sabbath. It is now 
eleven o'clock A. M. My dear wife has gone to the sanctuary. 
I find a sanctuary here. I have the Bible, the Hymn Book, 
Carvosso, Baxter's Dying Thoughts, Bridge's Exposition of the 
119th Psalm, and Wesley's Sermons lying before me. I have 
the Holy Spirit. I have Christ. 

"God is reviving my soul this morning. Blessed be his 
name ! Though my outward man decayeth, and I feel to-day 
that the body sinks, yet if the inward man is renewed day by 
day, as it is this morning, all will be well. Glory be to God ! 

"Xenia, October 9, 1849. 
"To the Preachers' Meeting op Cincinnati, — I have 
received and duly appreciate the expression of your wishes 
that I should aid the good work you are engaged in. But my 
plans have been laid to itinerate and labor this winter in the 
West and North, and if Providence give me health, I am ex- 
ceedingly solicitous to visit those rural parts which are more 
needy of my feeble sendees than the cities are. Besides, 
my constant familiarity with the pulpits of Cincinnati for 
sixteen years inclines me, on Wesleyan principles, to visit 
other fields. 

" As often as circumstances bear me to the city, for a week 
or two at a time, I will do what health permits. At present 



EPISCOPAL LABOE: SIXTH YEAR. 359 



my prospect is somewhat discouraging, the labors of ten months 
having more seriously affected my health than I supposed. 

" I ask your prayers and shall not cease to remember each of 
you and his field of labor. - Blessed be the God and Father of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual 
blessings in Christ.' " 

"Sunday, 14. — Still sick; nerves much diseased; unable to 
walk, read, write, or kneel much in prayer. Small enjoyments. 
Lord, appear for my help ! 

" Monday, 22. — Confined still. Lord, I cry unto thee ! Make 
haste to help me, O Lord ! The Lord is a refuge for me, and a 
strong tower from the enemy. 

" Sunday, November 4. — This morning, for the first time in six 
weeks, reached the sanctuary, and heard Dr. Elliott preach. It 
was pleasant, O Lord, to tread thy courts. ' O Lord of Hosts, 
blessed is the man that trusteth in thee ! ' 

" Cincinnati, Ohio, Wednesday, 7. — Have reached here with 
some difficulty. Found friends well. My health poor. Can- 
not read or write. 

" Monday, 12. — Reached Brother Brooks's. Here all things 
aid devotion. 

" Monday, 19. — God has blessed me to-day. My faith has been 
renewed. Now if I can neither preach, write, read, nor kneel 
to pray, I am blessed — happy. Lord, help me every moment to 
believe, and be saved. ' Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget 
not all his benefits.' ' He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in 
the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.' How easy, by un- 
belief, to lose this beatitude. Lord, I commit all to thy keeping. 

" Mount Auburn, Thursday, 29. — This thanksgiving day is 
good for me. My heart is thankful. Confined still, but in a 
little paradise below ; my soul is prospering. I have felt more, 
especially for one week, that the Lord of Hosts is with me. O 
what peace ! I write to Bishop Morris to-day, that ' my peace 
is as a river — an ocean I ' So indeed it is. Yet I feel that I am 
a worm, and no man. Lord, I am vile before thee. 

* I the chief of sinners am, 
But Jesus died for me I' 



360 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



The more lie blesses, me the more indignation do I feel at self, 
for my sins, my utter vileness and ingratitude. O blessed God 
and Saviour, what works of grace are thine ! How dost thou 
exalt worms! Let me dwell upon it with adoring wonder. 
1 Bless the Lord, my soul ! ' " 

" CrN-cnra-ATi, December 15, 1849. 
"My Beloved Son, — Your very welcome letter reached us 
last evening, and brought the unwelcome news that you still 
relapse. I say 'unwelcome,' not as finding fault with Provi- 
dence, but speaking after the manner of men, and indicating 
our trial in the matter. If we were well enough to attempt it 
without the greatest imprudence, I would start to-morrow 
for L. But I have not been out of doors for several days, and 
the most I now pretend to do is, once a day, to step from one 
room into another with a good fire, while they air my apart- 
ments. 

"Two unusual circumstances have transpired here the last 
week. First, a young gentleman (W.) was left here, a boy, 
some eight years ago, by the death of his father, with a property 
of some one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. His father 
was a Universalist, and had nearly built up Universalism, as far 
as it was built up (it is a small low affair here) in this city. 
Young W. came to his majority about a year ago. He launched 
out into dissipation of all sorts, and in a few months pleasure 
reduced him to the last days of life, and he soon could have 
preached a sermon on, ' The way of transgressors is hard.' It 
was expected, by serious people, that he would die under the 
deceitful doctrines and false assurances of Universalist preachers 
and friends, (his mother one of them ! ! ) careless and stupid as a 
brute dies. But unexpectedly he became, a few days ago, dis- 
tressed to agony about his souL A pious young Protestant 
Episcopal minister (Nicholson) was sent for, spent much time 
with him, instructed him like a child, (for he knew nothing of 
Church doctrines,) and he was powerfully converted, died in 
triumph, and Mr. Nicholson in performing the funeral services 
amid his Universalist friends, earnestly prayed Almighty God 
to snatch the deceived, deluded mother and others from perdi- 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 



361 



tion, etc. The whole circumstances, in connection with the 
standing and wealth of the family, excite great interest. I hope 
it may be the means of saving some souls. 

" Rev. Mr. P. has drowned himself. And who, you ask, is he ? 
He was the pastor of the Unitarian Church, and has been con- 
sidered by the upper classes, for ten years, one of the most learned, 
accomplished, benevolent (pious!) men in this city. He was 
learned and benevolent, and has probably done more harm to 
religion here than all the infidels, blasphemers, rowdies, and 
black-legs of the city did or could have done. He was a fra- 
grant poison, a zephyred pestilence spread through all the city. 

" What a world is this ! What solemn, lasting — everlasting 
issues depend on it. It is a small thing to be rich, honorable, 
or scientific. It is a great thing to be a man with the attributes, 
the immortalities, the endless destinies of man, inalienably 
cleaving to us. O my son, forget it not! Forget it not for 
one moment ; nor for one moment forget to secure your eternal 
interests. I look upon it as in a condition inconceivably more 
affecting than that of the man who was drawn up the precipice 
by a windlass and a rope, which, as he ascended, began to un- 
wind, until some of the strands were severed by the friction of 
the jutting rocks above him, and he looked every moment to 
sink to the fearful rocky depths below. How do you think I 
should look upon you in that position ? But without religion 
your position is infinitely worse, so far as in the former case 
your mere body is concerned. Life is wasting, and the ' silver 
cord' may yield suddenly, any moment, and the depth below 
you is unfathomable, and the abyss is fire and wrath. Awake, 
my beloved son, awake to your danger! Look within you, 
and around you, and beneath you, and then at last with fear 
and penitence look above you to Christ, the bleeding Saviour. 
O look, obey, and live ! " 

"Monday, December 17. — Have for one week suffered much 
from swollen face. Yesterday, Sabbath, was alone most of the 
day and was much blessed. Jesus revealed himself to me. ' I 
love the Lord who stooped so low.' Lord, I give myself to 
thee afresh, This I desire to do in a form more effectual, and 

16 



362 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



a degree more satisfactory, than ever before. In the solitude of 
this room, whence one year ago this day a very dear Christian 
Mend took her flight in inexpressible triumphs to Abraham's 
bosom, I would bow before ' Him who seeth in secret,' and sur- 
render all to thee forever. O thou, who gayest thy Son a ran- 
som for me, aid me ! Holy Spirit, work the consecration in my 
heart. Blessed Jesus, whose blood has paid the ransom for my 
guilty soul, enable me, that I may lay my all of being on thine 
altar, never to be removed. 

" But what have I to consecrate and offer unto thee ? 

"An immortal soul, such as thou hast given, and of which 
thou art proprietor. A heart of quenchless ardors, kindled for 
eternity. A body worn, frail, broken — a decayed and sinking 
tabernacle, yet wonderfully made. A beloved wife, thy bless- 
ing to me ; and a son unhealed of sin ; and some small yet pre- 
cious gifts of Providence, if used and not abused. These — all 
these — body, soul, and spirit, family and estate — all these in 
their utmost power and uses for thy glory, I hereby consecrate 
to Father, Son, and Spirit, through the merits of my Redeemer 
alone, by the Holy Ghost who alone can enable me. O Lord of 
Hosts, vile and hell-deserving as I am, receive this offering at 
my unworthy hand ! Now come and seal me thine, far more 
fully than in all past times, when thou hast deigned, as thou 
often hast, to shine upon my soul. I thank thee for these sea- 
sons of thy love and pity toward me. They ought not and, I 
trust, shall not be forgotten. But O thou Infinite Goodness, 
make this season memorable above all others. Let me as never 
until now become consciously 1 the temple of the Holy Ghost,' 
so as to bear about an experimental verification of that word, 
\ and be filled with all the fullness of God.' 

" In thy strength and grace I covenant (how vainly without 
thy grace thou, O Lord, knowest) to be thine in all my powers 
and patiences, in my family and friends and foes, and in my 
worldly substance ; in health and sickness, in prosperous or ad- 
verse states, in life and in death, through Jesus Christ my Lord. 
And in thus approaching thee, I bear to thee (who most ab- 
horrest them) my utmost guilt and pollution, insupportable to 
any creature, and cast them with my poor self— soul, body, and 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SIXTH YEAR. 363 



spirit — upon thee. And while I thus do, in confidence that 
thou wilt receive, I exclaim 

' Exults my rising soul, 

Disburdened of her load, 
And swells unutterably full 
Of glory and of God.' 

" Mount Auburn, Thursday, 20. — My soul is kept in perfect 
peace. Truly I may now say, 4 The best of all is, God is with 
us.' "While my body sinks in weakness my soul rises in God's 
strength. A peace ' which passeth all understanding ' keeps 
my mind and heart. 

O Saviour, how precious hast thou become to my renovated 
heart. My sins never seemed to me so hell-deserving, nor thy 
grace so abounding. The more those would crush me, the 
more thou dost save me. Truly, ■ where sin abounded ' (in my 
clear apprehension of it) 'grace does much more abound.' I 
meditate much on death. It is not repulsive. I feel a love 
shed abroad in my heart, which seems to swallow up the fear 
of death. 

" O blessed Jesus, thou wilt not let me be deceived. Thou 
earnest not to destroy but to save. I lay my heart open to thine 
omniscient search this day. ' Search me, O God, and know my 
heart . . . See if there be any evil way in me, and lead me in the 
way everlasting.' I resign and consecrate all I am and have to 
thee for evermore. I come out from the world, (thou enablest 
me,) and thou hast said, 'I will receive thee, and will be a 
Father unto thee. 1 Amen. 

" Sunday, 30. — Am detained from God's house to-day. All 
the family gone. Have had much peace in Christ for a few 
days past. Yesterday less of the sensible presence of Christ 
than usual. To-day no deep emotion, but a humble trust in 
Christ. 

' I the chief of sinners am, 
But Jesus died for me.' 

O how true both lines to my own vile, yet redeemed self. Lord, 
more and more show me my unworthiness and thine infinite 
fullness. I cast my soul once more on thee. 



364 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



"Monday, 31. — On this last evening of the year I have read 
over my diary for the last two years. What a record of God's 
mercy and of my unfaithfulness. And now I am soon to bid 
farewell to another year of mercies. I have been spared amid 
the dangers of long journeys, exposure to cold and storms, 
feeble health, the terrors of cholera, and overwhelming labors 
amid them all. My dear wife has been spared, and all my 
family. Many dear friends have died, but all of them, I believe, 
in the Lord. 

" I find too, at the close of the year, that God has not forsaken 
me. Even now my soul is blessed, and the face of Immanuel 
shines on me. Last evening, after making my record for the 
Sabbath, the Holy Spirit came down on us in family prayer in 
a very unusual manner. We turned our domestic devotions 
into a prayer meeting, and as three or four of the family in suc- 
cession impleaded the Hearer of prayer, our hearts caught a 
new flame ; one, I trust, consecrated all, and the most precious 
tokens of God's favor were bestowed on us. Since then a divine 
power has rested on several of us. My dear wife has received 
new strength, and my own soul has been like a well watered 
garden. Never did I feel more of the presence and power of 
God than I have at times this day. And how thankfully 
should I receive these tokens of mercy now, at the close of the 
year. 

" I believe the effort I made to consecrate myself afresh to 
my Saviour on the 17th instant was a blessing to my soul. 
That hour I would join with this — this closing period of the 
year; and now, blessed Jesus, I renewedly take thee for my 
portion, thy commandments for my guide, thy doctrines for my 
wisdom, thy promises for my stay and support, thy Spirit for 
my comforter, and thy heaven for my home for evermore. O 
seal me thine abode ! 

1 Let all I am in thee be lost, 
Let all be lost in God.' »> 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 365 



CHAPTER XVI. 

episcopal labor: seventh year. 

From the time of Bishop Hamline's election to the superin- 
tendency, he was oppressed with a realization of the responsi- 
bility of his position. The thought that, in consequence of his 
ill health, his Colleagues must take additional labor, he could 
not endure. In the summer of 1849, Bishop Hedding being 
unable to attend his conferences, Bishop Hamline exerted him- 
self to the utmost to assist in supplying the work. This 
deprived him of the usual short rest between the conferences, 
and subjected him to long and hurried journeys. 

In the autumn of that year he reached the Cincinnati Con- 
ference, at Dayton, Ohio, in order to assist Bishop Waugh, but 
he was so entirely broken down as to be compelled to leave in 
haste before conference adjourned. He reached Xenia, a few 
miles distant, where his wife had remained with her niece, and 
here he lay prostrate several weeks before he could even pro- 
ceed to Cincinnati. From this strain upon his already ex- 
hausted system he did not recover his accustomed health 
during the winter's rest. 

At the commencement of 1850 we find him, though strong 
in the inner life, gradually failing in the outer man. Though 
occasionally rallying, and, from the mighty constrainings of 
divine love, often abundant in labors, yet to the observing eye 
of affection it was most evident that the future of his work in the 
superintendency was accomplished amid weariness oft, or, as in 
the language of the holy Paul, " dying daily." 

January 8 he says : " My peace, since the new year com- 
menced, has been almost uninterrupted. Have been confined 
mostly to the house, but my room has truly been a Bethel. 
Sometimes the presence of Christ has been such in its mani- 
festations that I could realize — 



366 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



u The speechless awe that dares not move, 
And all the silent heaven of love." 

The family lias been blessed. One has entered the rest of faith, 
and is doubtless now wholly consecrated, bearing all the fruits 
of perfect love. 

" CrsrciisNATi, Wednesday, 16. — Spent last Saturday and Sab- 
bath at our excellent friend's X. W. Thomas's, and came to 
John Dubois's, to board, on Monday the fourteenth instant. 
Here hope to find (as I have at M. Brooks's) a sweet retreat. 
May the Lord bless us with light, peace, and, above all, purity 
gf heart ! Have not felt so much of joy for three days past, but 
owing in part, I think, to poorer health. O Jesus, let not my 
faith fail ! Help me to throw away distrust of thee, and take 
thy promises with a true faith, a faith which ' works by love and 
purifies the heart.' I beseech, thee, O Lord, show me thy glory ! 

" Monday, 21. — Am disappointed to-day. Expected to reach 
the sanctuary, but was too ill to venture out in the rain. But 
let me stay my soul on the mighty God of Jacob." 

" Cutouts-ATI, January 28, 1850. 

" To his Son, — Since my last my health has been poor. I 
am this morning very feeble, and sometimes it seem3 as though 
my breath would fail and the silver cord be loosed. I am be- 
ginning strongly to apprehend that I may never go out again 
to my work. I leave that to Providence. 

" A glorious revival of religion is now going on in the city. 
It came first upon the Church, refreshing and purifying it in a 
wonderful manner, particularly at Wesley Chapel and Ninth- 
street. For the fifteen years that I have called this city my 
home, there has been no revival equal to this in power and 
promise. It seems especially efficacious as a purifier of the 
Church, though it is reaching beyond the Church. I think 
some twenty pupils iri the Wesleyan Female College profess to 
have been converted within two or three days. Our preachers 
are laboring with a new zeal in the cause. 

" We expect the cholera (the weather having* been suitable 
for April now three weeks or more) every day. O that this 
work may prepare thousands for its visitation ! 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 367 



" Mr. L., the young lawyer, and his wife B., are devoting 
themselves with a wonderful zeal to this good cause. They go 
out to protracted meetings on his circuit near the city, and, 
after preaching, labor together at the altar with great success. 
Her zeal is equal to his. His seems equal to Wesley's. His 
younger brother, eighteen years old, has just graduated with 
great eclat, and Judge L. was about to set him to the study of 
law ; but he was suddenly overtaken (by his brother's letters, 
sent home by the Spirit) and convicted. Now he insists that 
he must preach. His whole soul is given up to Christ. His 
very face is radiant with holy joy. You may remember W. L., 
his father, was appointed by me as your guardian. W. may 
be a year older than you. He graduated with great honor at 
Woodward College, and is now one of the professors and a 
local preacher. Joseph, his elder brother, is one of the most 
eloquent preachers west of the mountains." 

" Tuesday, 29. — Reached God's house yesterday. Exhorted 
five minutes, and closed with a few words of prayer. It was 
with great difficulty I stayed in the house for faintness. I have 
enjoyed Christ for a few days. O how precious such enjoy- 
ment ! God is pouring out his Spirit marvelously. The 
Church is moved and is moving forward. Several are sancti- 
fied daily. Praise God ! 

"Friday, February 1. — A day of days to my soul! Was 
baptized in the morning in my room while, as is customary 
with us, myself and dear wife were holding our morning prayer- 
meeting in our chamber. Filled with joy and with the Holy 
Ghost, I went to Ninth-street to witness the work of God there.. 
I was enabled to speak to them ten minutes. I suppose near 
fifty believers and unbelievers were at the altar. Several were 
sanctified powerfully. It seemed to me that the atmosphere of 
the house was sensibly imbued with odors from God's throne. 
O in what an ocean of purity and bliss this soul did plunge 
and bathe ! I retired feeling that one half step, as it were, 
separated me from the heavenly glory. At Brother Thomas's, 
where I dined, I suffered much for want of breath ; thought at 
one time I might be going directly home. All was well. The 



368 



LIFE OP BISHOP HAMLINE. 



doctors, Lawson and Comegys, have -written out an opinion 
that my disease is still of the heart, and has increased, and that 
a voyage to Europe is necessary. They urge it. My "work 
prevents, and I cannot go. I thought to lay it before my col- 
leagues, but it would greatly embarrass them, and I will be 
silent, attend my conferences if able, and if not able, and should 
die, let me die as near my post as I can get. For me ' to die is 
gain.' Yes, blessed Jesus, thanks to thy name and humiliation 
and groans and blood, unworthy as thou knowest I am, for me 
1 to die is gain.' " 

" Cincinnati, February 11, 1850. 
"To Rev. Bishop Morris, — I have had the pleasure re- 
cently of hearing read by Brother R. S. Foster the letter in 
which he gives you the account of his recent experience. Con- 
sidering the relation a remarkably interesting one, I suggested 
to him that it might be rendered a blessing to others if he 
would submit it to the press. He stated that he had no objec- 
tion, and on my mentioning the 1 Guide 1 at Boston, he agreed 
to leave in my hands a copy to be forwarded to Brother King. 
I proposed to write to you on the subject, that you might 
understand the fact and its reasons. I apprehend that such 
instances of divine interposition to bring Christians into a 
special union with Christ, and more particularly to prepare his 
ministers for more efficient labors in the vineyard, are worthy 
of special notice, and that their publication, so that many 
may read and ponder them, is calculated to promote the 
spread of holiness. On this ground, I suppose, Mr. Wesley 
collected and published the 'Preachers' Experiences' at an 
early day. 

"The revival is now most powerful at Christie Chapel. 
Several profess to be baptized afresh every day, and each 
evening some are converted, from one or two to six or eight 
each night. A protracted meeting commenced at Morris 
Chapel to-day. I enjoyed the privilege of attending its open- 
ing services and talking about fifteen minutes on faith, which 
is the greatest effort I have made for almost five months. Yes- 
terday I was able to partake of the Lord's Supper, consecrating 
the elements. You will justly infer that I am some better. I 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 369 



shall endeavor to proceed very cautiously, and, if possible, not 
aggravate my difficulty by imprudence. It is hard work to 
be idle." 

" Sunday, 17. — I have rather improved in health for the last 
ten days. Have many blessings to be thankful for. Hear that 
my son L. is attentive to religion, and hopes by his teachers 
that it is a radical change. If so, what a mercy ! The last 
two weeks have brought me unusual inward struggles and 
trials. I have a measure of deliverance. I desire a deeper 
conformity to God's will. How can I rest without it ? I may 
never leave this city alive. Often my pectoral difficulty is 
severe. Sometimes I feel as though I were all ready to depart. 
Thus I would always be and feel. I have lately felt much 
interest in faith. I like Mr. Wesley's account of it. To believe 
(with a divine evidence and conviction) that God, 1. Promises ; 
2. Is able ; 3. Willing ; 4. Now ; and 5. Doeth it. This to my 
apprehension is sanctifying, saving faith. O my God, let me 
feel the full power of it ! 

"Monday, 18. — This has been a day of gracious deliverances. 
God has mercifully interposed. Last night and this morning 
the enemy assailed me in a manner most distressing to my soul. 
It seemed as though legions combined against me. About ten 
A. M. the light broke in and brought a glorious day. 

" Sunday, March 10. — For nearly two weeks I have been 
confined mostly to my bed. My sickness has been a more 
aggravated disease of the heart. I have suffered distress, faint- 
ings, with inward pains and sinkings like death. In all this 
sickness I have had no sensible emotions of any sort. My 
state was simply resignation. My language was, ' Not my will, 
but thine, O Lord, be done ! ' And this did not seem much 
more than contented thought, for, as I have said, I had no 
emotions. Often when sick, and thought dangerous, I have 
had great longings to depart, great desires to burst away and 
fly to Jesus. I have had no such feelings now. Then I thought 
I should die, because I desired to be with Christ ; now it seems 
as though I should not die, because I have no such longings. 
As I was disappointed then, so I may be now, and my time 



370 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



may be close at hand. I resign all to God. I know : 1. That I 
am very unworthy ; 2. That I am converted ; 3. That God has 
wrought a deeper work than ever within eight years; and 
finally, I believe he will receive me to his presence. I trust if 
my work is done, which seems most likely, (and I am content 
if that be his pleasure,) that he will give me peace in death. 
As to my labors, ' I am not meet to be called ' Christ's minister, 
and I am thoroughly ashamed of every effort I have made for 
twenty years to preach Christ. When I try to think how his 
Gospel should be preached, with what holy zeal and ardor, 
discretion and ability, I can but turn away with loathing from 
all my efforts. Yet, O blessed God and Saviour, thou knowest 
that thou hast been with me. I abhor myself, but praise 
thee ! " 

" Cincinnati, March 13, 1850. 

" To his Son, — After having been confined mostly to my bed • 
for two weeks, I am so far relieved as to be able to ride out again 
with great care, though my voice is almost gone, and I can take 
no part even in leading family devotions. Your mother was 
taken ill also on Monday night ; we think her better. 

" Your letter of the fourth came to-day. We were glad to 
hear. Your mother wrote about a week ago when I was too 
ill to attempt it. Now I must answer her letter, as I can sit 
up and she cannot. 

" Our chamber is a hospital, but it is made pleasant by the 
presence of Christ. How true it is, ' His presence disperses our 
gloom, and makes all within us rejoice.' What a paradise of 
delights he bears into the soul of his redeemed ! ' This God is 
our God for ever and ever,' if we cleave to him in constant 
prayer ; but it is easy to lose the sense of his presence, then 
what gloom shuts in upon the soul ! What an inward night 
spreads through the chambers of the heart ! O let us fly to 
him constantly ! If the sweetness and beauty of his love and 
presence is in the least degree obscured or lessened, let us, with 
strong and invincible resolution, fly to our knees, and never 
cease to struggle until all is regained. One of the most fatal 
and dangerous mistakes is not to pray except when we feel like 
it. When prayer is only a duty, not a refection, avoid this 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 371 



and always pray ; and the less you feel like it the more earn- 
estly and perseveringly. Seek God patiently, resolving, patiently, 
I will not let thee go. O may God bless ! 

" If I go to Europe I will take you with me, and yet doubt if 
I can go. My conferences will be in the way. My health is 
gone, and I am but a wreck. We leave all this to our 
heavenly Father. Your sick mother sends a message of 
prayerful love." 

During part of the months of February and March Bishop H. 
was so ill, that observations taken from a human standpoint 
suggested scarcely a hope of recovery. But he dwelt on the 
suburbs of the land Beulah, and sometimes seemed to pass over 
its environs, faith lending its realizing light to such a degree 
that he exclaims, " Already have we passed through the golden 
gates." To Brother Worthington, who called to see him, he 
said: "Give my love to all the preachers. Tell them that 
religion is sweet — sweet in the sick-room. Just as sweet in the 
sick-room as it is in the pulpit. I prove it so. Had I health 
now, I don't know that I would labor as I used to, for I used 
to labor too hard ; but I would preach, would labor, would do 
all I could for my Saviour." Soon after he knelt with his fam- 
ily for noon-day prayers, and said, " Praise the Lord for this 
precious, purifying peace ! " In the afternoon he was told that 
a man had fallen dead in the street ; he exclaimed, " O if it had 
been happy me ! How wonderful to be on earth one moment, 
and in heaven the next ! I am unworthy, but His spirit can 
accomplish all that is necessary ! " 

On another occasion one said to him, " How do you feel this 
morning ? " He said, " My feelings this morning remind me of 
Dr. Franklin when he said, ' I am about to be got out in a new 
edition.' I need a new edition, I can hardly get up or down ; 
but I can feel my Saviour in my heart — I have everlasting life 
begun." 

March 28. — Since the above date Bishop H. had been much 
as usual, frequently expressing great peace and joy. His Sab- 
baths had been days of great blessing to him. In a letter 
dictated about this time to Brother Lane, he says: "I am 



372 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



extremely feeble, but there is comfort at the close, as well as at 
the beginning, and day by day I experience great quietness and 
serenity as I repose beneath the cross, and wait to know the 
will of my divine Lord and Master. Were I to express my 
experience in a word it would be peace — peace as a river." 

31. — At night, being very ill, he said : " Maybe I will get off 
to-night. I am very vile, very unworthy, but my Saviour is 
worthy. He gives me faith — faith. He enables me to trust/' 
He daily spoke much of the mercies of God, often recounting 
them with tears, especially at his seasons of prayer in his family. 

April 2. — Being very joyful, he asked, " Does not the Psalm- 
ist say, i My flesh trembleth for fear of thee ? ' " and said, " I 
believe my flesh trembleth with a sense of the divine presence. 
I understand what Dr. B. meant when he said, ' My very eyes are 
happy ! ' " In the afternoon, having one of his sudden sinking 
spells, he said, " It is a good day to die." 

12. — After a wakeful night, he said: "The Lord has taught 
me many lessons during the night; has shown me in several 
particulars where I have failed in reference to the treatment of 
my brethren toward me, and also in reference to the great work 
which he has wrought in my heart. I saw that the accuser 
had succeeded in robbing me of much." At night he said: 
" This has been a good day, one of the best of days. It seems 
as though my heart would be drawn out of me heavenward." 
" I am sick, sick, but I am happy too." 

It was while the head of the Church was thus glorifying his 
name in the sick-room of his servant, that the beloved colleagues 
of Bishop H. convened for their yearly meeting in Philadelphia. 
It was the first time since his election that this their brother 
beloved had been absent ; but they could not be unmindful of 
him. Under date of March 27, 1850, they affectionately address 
him in their united capacity : 

" Rev. Bishop Hamline : Dear Brother, — A gracious Prov- 
idence permitted us all to convene in this city on the 20th inst. 
in our usual health. We have had a week's session of labor 
and care. A perfect harmony of feeling and great unanimity 
of sentiment have prevailed among us. We are now about to 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 



373 



separate ; and before doing so we take occasion to express to 
our afflicted, absent colleague, Bishop Hamline, our strong 
fraternal affection and confidence, and our deep sympathy with 
him in his sufferings and privations. "We have daily remem- 
bered him in our devotions, and united in interceding for the 
renewal of his health and strength, and for his religious peace 
and consolation in his affliction. Most thankful shall we be if 
it please the Lord to restore him to health and to our councils. 
And we assure you, dear brother, you will continue to have an 
interest in our intercessions at the throne of the heavenly grace, 
and that you will ever be cherished in our affections and 
sympathies. 

" Your letter to Bishop Morris in relation to your health, and 
also a letter from Dr. Comegys, your physician, on the same 
subject, were read. 

" In accordance with your suggestion of an alternate plan of 
episcopal visitation for this year, we have agreed upon the 
following : 

" Bishop Hedding : New Jersey, April 17. New York, May 8. 
New York East, May 22. East Maine, June 26. Maine, July 10. 

"Bishop Waugh : Philadelphia, March 27. Vermont, June 12. 
Black River, June 2G. Oneida, July 24. East Genesee, Au- 
gust 21. Michigan, September 21. Genesee, September 18. 

" Bishop Morris : Providence, April 3. New England, April 24. 
New Hampshire, May 8. Troy, May 29. Wisconsin, June 26. 
Rock River, July 17. Iowa, August 7. Missouri, August 28. 
Illinois, September 18. Indiana, October 9. 

" Bishop Janes : Western Virginia, June 5. Pittsburgh, June 
19. Erie, July 10. North Ohio, July 31. North Indiana, 
August 21. Ohio, September 18. 

" You perceive by this alternate plan all the conferences can 
be met, if Providence preserves the health of your colleagues, 
without any very severe requirement of any of them. This 
being the case, we desire that you have no anxiety about your 
conferences, and that you should not make any great effort to 
attend them yourself. 

"It will be necessary for Bishop Morris to hear from you 
by the time of the opening of the Troy Conference, which 



374 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



meets at Saratoga, May 29. Will you please write to him at 
that place ? 

" We now commend you to God and the riches of his grace. 
May grace, mercy, and peace be multiplied unto you continu- 
ally. With Christian salutations to Sister Hamline, we remain 
your affectionate and sympathizing brothers in Christ, 
"E. Hedding, B. Waugh, 
T. A. Morris, Edmund S. Janes." 

" Xenia, O., April 17, 1850. 

To his son : " For one week since I wrote, my health has im- 
proved so much that I ride out and walk two or three squares 
with great (comparative) comfort. I am much better now than 
I have been for seven months. I should have started further 
east ere this but for the cold, winter-like weather, which almost 
every night brings frost and ice in considerable abundance. I 
begin to think seriously of visiting my conferences. Although 
the doctors think it dangerous, and would have me refrain, yet 
I feel it a great trial to give up. I must decide by the 20th of 
May, and will then let you know. 

" Some contradictory reports come to us respecting cholera. 
I see reported in the Gazette to-day (which I send you) two 
cases reported from St. Louis week before last. I hope it may 
be checked altogether. But it is more likely it will break out 
with violence when the warm weather comes. There are cases 
almost every week in Cincinnati, and it is said that Brother 
Simmons, one of the preachers, has had it ; but the papers are 
very still about it, as the business of the city was destroyed by 
it last year. It is expected through this region, where it was 
very bad last year. 

"Let us be ready, my dear son, every hour for death. Pre- 
pared to die, we are prepared also to live. Life is not life until 
we are ready for its close ; for its change, rather, to the next and 
perfect life, in which ' mortality is swallowed up of life.' Were 
it safe, it would still be miserable to live without God. His 
presence makes our paradise, and where he is (in the heart) is 
heaven. You will not, I trust, grow weary of parental admoni- 
tions, warnings, exhortations, and encouragements. We should 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 



375 



not give so many if we had not ourselves learned from experi- 
ence the dangers and snares of the way. O may Almighty 
Wisdom keep you, you seeking to be kept ! 

" We daily pray for you, not once, but many times. Yet you 
know you must ' work out your own salvation.' The Lord help 
you — and he will. We join in Christian, as well as parental, 
love to you, and implore the blessing of God upon you." 

" CmcnnsrATi, April 4, 1850. 
" To Rev. J. M. Trimble, — Whatever we are called to do in 
the exercise of our functions as ministers, (in the sphere we 
occupy with the divine approbation,) God will uphold and 
defend us in the doing of it. However its execution may now 
be permitted to affect our reputation, we shall in the end be 
gainers. Of old, you know the apostles suffered, and displayed 
their heroic zeal by patience as well as by diligence. ' There- 
fore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the 
living God.' 

" I doubt not you will strive to do your duty amid difficul- 
ties ; but I write to encourage your heart under the trials which 
may ensue. Better to suffer in the way of duty than escape by 
neglecting it, even if we could escape, which is impossible ; for 
God will in some way make the courageous execution of duty, 
as in the case of Daniel, work for our advantage. He may 
permit us to be briefly tried with the sight of formidable diffi- 
culties and the pressure of unpleasant circumstances ; may per- 
mit the enemy to succeed at first in procuring a king's decree 
to thrust us into a lion's den or a fiery furnace ; but somehow, 
in the end, by shutting the lion's mouth, or quenching the vio- 
lence of the flames, if necessary, will deliver him that ' trusteth 
in his God.' Nay, will make the very circumstances which 
threatened evil turn to our advantage, and work our advance- 
ment in usefulness. 

u There is one point on which I wished to speak with you, 
but did not feel, when I last saw you, that time and strength 
permitted, namely : large parties of Christian people, assembling 
together much after the manner and in the style of the world, 
and spending three or four hours of time in ' chit-chat,' with 



876 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



(or sometimes without) a prayer at the close of their entertain- 
ment. I have been fearful that great evils will result from this 
practice, and think I have seen already its early injurious fruits. 
I will mention some of them : 

" 1. These parties are generally given by Methodist families 
where religion (if there be any) is at a low ebb, so low that they 
may generally be denominated 'backsliders;' and when the 
more pious of the Church accept their invitations to large enter- 
tainments, it always tends to soothe them in their spiritual 
slumbers, and perpetuate their backslidings. 

" 2. Such families as are cold in religion make the religious 
party (I ought to say the party attended by religious persons, 
for the party itself is not religious unless much time is spent in 
prayer and praise) an excuse for getting up gay parties ; and in 
some places I know that the two sorts (the religious and the 
gay) are alternated with considerable regularity, and that the 
young members of the family have vindicated the gay party by 
referring to the foregoing clerical and religious party which 
the ' most pious were glad to attend,' and ' behaved no better 
than we did.' 

" 3. Some of these families (not as yet in Ohio, that I am 
aware of) have finally allowed their children to have dancing 
in these parties ; so that, in some cases, our best known mem- 
bers in some of the cities have balls in their parlors, and 
morning altar devotions succeed the wild, quick, tip-toe 
movements of excessive mirth, led on by the desecrated piano, 
that most convenient and genteel substitute for the fiddle 
which the stupid old negro used to play in the times of our 
grandfathers. 

" 4. Many of our members, who attend the somewhat graver 
parties given to our preachers and members, avail themselves of 
this as an excuse or warrant for attending all parties, where 
gayety and mirth indulge in most excessive pastimes, as games 
like chess, backgammon, and cards, with unlimited freedom in 
dancing. You may startle at this, but I know it to be true, 
and religious parties are claimed as a license. 'If the religious 
have parties, and we meet our brethren there,' say they, ' we 
bave a right to meet our irreligious friends also, and why not 



EPISCOPAL LAP>OR: SEVENTH YEAR. 377 



here ? And these little games, and this dancing, have no more 
harm in them than to sit all the evening in dull " chit-chat," 
and in talking about our neighbors.' " 

Bishop H.'s work in the summer of 1850 lay in the West as 
far as Iowa and Missouri. Physicians warned him not to 
attempt it. They reasoned that if his work lay in a more 
invigorating climate he might more safely attempt it. But 
almost the entire journey lay across the country, which at that 
time must be traveled by stage or private conveyance, ex- 
posing him to heat and rain, compelling him to protracted, 
malarious inhalations, to which would be added the un- 
comfortable lodgings of newly and sparsely-settled regions. 
During the spring duty called him to Zanesville, where his old 
friend and counselor, Rev. David Young, resided, and in his 
perplexity he resorted to him for advice. In view of all the 
circumstances, and the probable sacrifice of his life, Mr. Young 
said, " I would not go." Bishop H. said, " But if you felt that 
you would rather go and die than not go, what would you do ? " 
" Then I would go," was the earnest response. 

May 10 he wrote to Brother Swormstedt: " If not much worse 
I will go to my conferences. It seems to me easier to die than 
be all the year idle." He went in his own carriage, accompa- 
nied by only his wife. 

After he had attended the "Wisconsin and Rock River Con- 
ferences he proceeded, though in great feebleness, to Fairfield, 
the seat of the Iowa Conference. Here he was so enfeebled that 
his brethren supported and fanned him during the ordination 
of deacons, and the elders came to his lodgings and received 
imposition of hands. 

He now saw that it was vain to attempt to reach the Missouri 
Conference, and wrote as follows to its members : 

" To the Members of the Missouri Annual Conference : 
Beloved Brethren, — Having attempted, contrary to the advice 
and protestations of my physicians, to prosecute my summer 
labors as usual, and save my colleagues, who are also feeble, 
extra labors on my account, I find myself at this point unable 



378 



LIFE OF BISHOP HA.MLINE. 



to visit your conference, and forward the inclosed papers to be 
presented tc the president of the body. You will please elect 
a president from among the presiding elders, as the Discipline 
directs. 

"Regretting exceedingly that I cannot visit you and enjoy 
your Christian society and fellowship, and learn in person how 
your work prospers, yet perfectly assured that there is no pros- 
pect of my reaching you if I start, and that to attempt it in the 
circumstances would be unwise, if not morally wrong, I close by 
humble and earnest entreaties to the Head of the Church that 
he will bless you individually with that 'perfect love' which 
' casteth out all fear,' and that, the business of the conference 
being accomplished under his blessed guidance, you may go to 
your work as Paul went, in the fullness of the blessing of the 
gospel of Christ. May he grant it for Christ's sake ! " 

Returning to Bloomington, the seat of the Illinois Conference, 
the last in his round, he found himself unable to preside, and 
could only occasionally occupy the chair and assist in making 
the appointments. He spent the winter at Captain John 
Moore's, in Peoria, Illinois, in great feebleness, but in his usual 
cheerful state of mind. 

"Peoria, October 13, 1850. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — 'Jesus reigns!' That is enough to 
fill a universe with rapture. It enraptures me this night. But 
we shall be kings and priests unto God. Because he 'lives' we 
shall ' live ; ' because he reigns we shall reign. We shall ' sit 
down with ' him ' on his throne ! ' 

" for power to love, to serve, to honor, to praise him as we 
ought ! 

" Your letter is in unison with this theme. This I could say 
of few. But the lines are Christ-like. Your two last have been 
unusually timely and comforting. Circumstances detain us, 
that is, Christ detains us here. Probably in a few months you 
will know certainly that it was our duty to stay. Now we can- 
not so fully explain. 

"I have preached just twelve times in twelve and a half 
months. My last sermon was at the Iowa Conference, early in 



EPISCOPAL LABOR: SEVENTH YEAR. 379 



August, nine months ago. I presided about five hours in all 
at the Illinois Conference, and could not go to the Missouri 
Conference. I can hear one sermon on the Sabbath, and exhort 
two or three minutes after the sermon. Can pray two or three 
minutes in the family. I can ride two hours at a time, and 
keep a horse and buggy for the purpose. Mental labor and 
business excitement almost takes my life. Yet I weigh within 
ten or twelve pounds as when you saw me, and except a livid 
complexion or hue, look well. I am improving ; take no medi- 
cine but a little aconite. Jesus reigns. Praise God and pray. 

"Peobia, III., October 16, 1850. 

"To Eev. Jacob Young, — When I parted with you last 
April I little thought so long a time would pass without my 
writing to you. Yet when I consider what I have passed 
through during the summer and spring I am not surprised at the 
occurrence. My great anxiety to hear from you, to receive a few 
lines from the hand which has so often penned encouraging 
words to help me onward, is now my great motive for writing. 

" My health is slowly improving. The toils of four confer- 
ences were too much for me. I missed two entirely, and pre- 
sided in another only a few hours — five or six. I was not able 
to travel after this last conference closed, (the Illinois,) and 
seated myself here with no very definite purpose except to rest 
a little. But as I find the situation pleasant, and have an ex- 
cellent boarding-house, I may stay through autumn and per- 
haps longer. 

" I have had a year of trials. But since I paused here I have 
found in some degree deliverance. I enjoy my mind better 
than usual, have a comfortable evidence that my sins are for- 
given and my heart graciously affected by God's cleansing 
power, and can lift up my head and rejoice, knowing that my 
redemption draweth nigh. In a word, I can from the heart 
reply to Wesley's question, ' Can you praise God ? ' and say i I 
can.' I must not write long letters until I improve more." 

Peoria, October 17, 1850. — Extract of letter to Rev. L. 
Swormstedt. — " We are well accommodated here, and find it a 
delightful spot. My state permits me to write but brief letters. 



380 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Cannot close this without saying that a week or two past hare 
been precious to me, by the view I have had of Christ and his 
salvation. Sometimes I have such delightful and close com- 
munion with Jesus that I think he may in mercy be preparing 
me for the grave — for heaven. We pray for you, and remember 
your friendship with increasing interest as old age comes on. 

may we meet in heaven ! " 

"Peoria, III., November 6, 1850. 
" To J. Dubois, Esq., — . . . My health had improved a little 
during the early part of October, but for two weeks I have lost 
ground and now am nearly as low down as ever — not quite. 
My mind has been much oppressed at times from the fact that 

1 could not discharge my duties, and this produced a state un- 
friendly to religious enjoyment. At other times I have had 
great peace, and since I became settled feel much better. Now 
I am drinking as it were at the fountain head. This day is a 
day of great peace, of strong trust in God. Mrs. H. is tolerable 
in health, and struggling for the kingdom. 

"I see a great work of sanctification is going on in many 
places eastward. I desire much to see Bishop Hedding's ser- 
mon on the subject, lately published. I have no doubt it is a 
treasure." 

"Peobia, III., November 12, 1850. 

"To Rev. Jacob Young, — As to correspondence, not my 
heart, but my health and work have hindered it. 

" I regret to hear of your declining health. But how won- 
derfully your time has been lengthened out. How few of your 
age (is there one?) could pretend to do what you do. It is a 
cause of gratitude to God. O may the Great Shepherd 1 lead 
you beside the still waters,' and then ' make you to lie down in 
green pastures' all your happy days. 

" I am deprived of most of the means of grace, but my peace 
is often like a river. Yesterday (Sabbath) I was shut up in my 
room all day, but had a heavenly time with Christ, my Lord. 
I hope, indeed, soon to meet you in heaven. Happy meeting ! 

"The millennium will come, but 'troublous times' go before 
it. May we be prepared ! " 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 381 



CHAPTER XVLT. 

DECLINING HEALTH — LAST TEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 

Bishop Hamline entered upon the year 1851 confined to his 
sick room in Peoria. By the consuming process of vital dis- 
ease we find from this time the strong man bowing. The tab- 
ernacle which had enshrined the loving, ever active purified 
spirit, was slow in dissolving before it became wholly unten- 
able. His devoted friends could not but see that the work was 
going on sadly and surely, yet God glorified himself in his serv- 
ant amid the slowly consuming process. Of him as a death- 
less spirit it might be said, 

* Like Moses's bush he mounted higher, 
And flourished unconsumed in fire.' 

In all, grace, mercy, and peace abounded. 

Wednesday, February 4. — He says, " I have peace that passeth 
all understanding. I am hoping to sing the song of the re- 
deemed, unworthy as I am, sinner as I am. I know that Jesus 
died for me — redeemed me. It seems to me as though the Lord 
would take me. He seems almost as near me as though I 
were in heaven — almost as though I were in it. Such a solemn 
delightful sense of his presence. Ah, the wonders of his grace ! 
Take me, Jesus." 

Saturday, 7. — He said, " If I die tell the people that I had 
heaven before I died. And the greater sinner I am, the more 
let them praise God." After a little lying down he said, "If he 
should draw my spirit out of my body to glory, would not that 
be wonderful ?" Again, " He gives me such a peace it is won- 
derful — a deeper peace than I have ever had." 

Friday, 27. — Alluding to letters received, he said, " Friends 
seem to be changing their prayers for me; they pray less for 
my life. I take it as evidence that I may be going home. Jesus 
is very near me to-day." 



382 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Tuesday, March 3. — Brother H. called to see hiin, and told 
him he had recently experienced entire sanctification. Among 
other things the bishop said to him : " There are two gates of 
the heart which ought always to be carefully watched. At one 
of these Christ enters, at the other Satan enters. One is faith ; 
this should be always kept open. The other is unbelief ; this is 
the only one at which Satan can enter. He may knock loudly at 
others, at pride, worldliness, etc., but cannot enter any while 
unbelief is kept closed." m 

"Peoria, III., February 28, 1851. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — What little I can write you shall 
have. My powers cannot be considerably taxed without both 
weariness and confusion of mind. I am poorly in bod} r , happy 
in spirit? I should think the Refiner is almost about taking 
me from the gentle furnace, but I haye no haste any way. I 
cannot say ' in a strait between two,' for I am much contented 
just where I am. I am not severely tried. A fainting or suffo- 
cation which I have is tedious when God withdraws his 
sensible presence ; for to 1 walk by faith,' you know, was always 
hard for me, yet my faith is increased of late. The promises 
seem wonderfully stable. My mind is much on ' Thy word is 
truth.' The Bible was never so sweet as now. 'Thy testi- 
monies have I chosen as a heritage for ever, for they are the 
rejoicing of my heart.' Most true. 

" It would be pleasant to see all of you once more ; but that 
I shall, and how soon, whether here, or beyond Jordan — which- 
ever He shall please, I can say Amen! 'Without spot and 
blameless ! ' Yes, it is a solemn thing this 4 dressing for eter- 
nity!' But Omnipotence works for us, and teaches us to be 
sober, and enables us. Mention me to each of the dear chil- 
dren. They have had great privileges. God requires of them 
great improvement. Pray for us. 

"P. S. — I generally write by other hands, but now this is 
with my own. Yours just received induced me to try it. We 
thank you." 

"March 16, 1851. 

" To his Son, — My disease is a mystery. Last night I con- 
sidered myself in the arms of death for hours. My starts from 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 383 



sleep are like rising from the coffin, for it is struggling into 
life. When I rouse, it is under a sense of the entire rest of the 
blood in the veins, the blood seeming to be started into motion 
by my struggles. It is a little like ordinary incubus, yet not 
exactly. My heart beats now, while I write, in a way which 
reminds me of the trembling of the steamer under the motion 
of a powerful engine. If I attempt any business my brain 
becomes affected in the same way. 

" My dear son, we are all passing away. Keligion alone is 
our hope and comfort. A manly piety in its ' full realizations ' 
is man's only security and his only desirable bliss. I look to 
you old, and you do not wonder that I should talk thus; 
but, my son, I have been young. Youth to me was just what 
it is to you — a season of hope as to this world. I have in 
worldly matters secured the reputation of being 'prudent.' 
My property has been preserved, and Providence has increased 
it. I have been benevolent in bestowing my income, but have 
provided for my family the comforts of life. I can speak of 
youth as well as of age, and of prosperity also as a means of 
happiness. Now, with all these experimental qualifications, to 
be a ' witness,' (not an ' advocate, 1 ) I testify that youth no more 
than age can, without religion, bring happiness; without 
religion, prosperity and wealth no more than poverty can bring 
happiness. The fact is so that God, by the very laws stamped 
on the human constitution, forbids us happiness without 
religion; but by those same laws God has provided for our 
unutterable blessedness in and by religion. O remember, and 
never forget, these two maxims : remember, and be wise ! " 

To Professor "Wentworth of Dickinson College, he writes, 
Peoria, March 25 : " My health is very poor, but I find 
religion to be a great medicine for the soul, and have great 
refreshings from the presence of the Lord in my sick room. 
There are glorious revivals around us, and the report of con- 
versions and sanctifications in the weekly papers, with the 
daily reports from our own sanctuary in Peoria, where God is 
converting sinners, seem to me like the breezes from the heav- 
enly city which refreshed the pilgrims in the land 'Beulah.' 



384 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE 



Pray that, having dwelt a while in this happy region, I may be 
conveyed safely over Jordan, and meet the 'shining ones' 
before the throne." 

To Mrs. Virginia M. Hamline, his daughter-in-law, he writes : 

" Moeris, III., May 11, 1851. 
" May the God of all grace, wisdom, and comfort vouchsafe 
to you and Leonidas his presence and saving benedictions, and 
bless your dear parents and brothers with all spiritual blessings. 
May his grace abound toward you and yours ! I trust your 
room is an ' oratory ' of prayer, where, without fail, you and L. 
daily, morning and evening, offer supplications and thanks to 
God. How much I am indebted to the aid rendered me in 
domestic relations for the comforts I have in Christ and his 
religion. I could not get along one day without them either 
in prayer for or with me ; and next to my Saviour I expect to 
thank my wife for salvation, if I reach heaven. Think, my 
dear child, that you have to do in your family as Mrs. H., your 
mother, has in hers. I have been more unwell for two days 
than usuaL I am better to-day, but I shall soon go to the 
grave." 

In the spring of 1851, rinding himself wholly unable to 
attempt his official work, he wrote to Bishop Janes, on whom, 
as the youngest of the Board, the heaviest labor would devolve, 
inquiring which one conference, as he could hope to reach but 
one, would relieve him most, and received in reply the East 
Maine. To this, with great effort, he went, and presided most 
of the session, attending to stationing the preachers. At the 
close of the conference he was so exhausted that he could not 
even see those who called to bid him farewell. He seemed but 
a step from death. 

On his return he reached the house of E. Ford, Esq., in 
Eastern New York, and literally fell down, unable to proceed 
westward. In this quiet retreat and adjacent country, among 
his wife's relatives, he spent several succeeding years, on Sab- 
bath attending church in the neighborhood, and occasionally 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 385 



speaking a few words of exhortation and closing the services, 
and attending class. 

u Schenectady, June 14, 1851. 

" To Dr. and Mks. P., — We have reached Mr. Ford's, (Mrs. 
H.'s nephew,) near S., and after four or five days' rest, he takes 
us in his carriage to Hillsdale for some two or three days, and 
then to Saratoga, to spend eight or ten days, and then to 
the Maine Conference. I am doing well, getting quite black 
in the sun, and gaining a robust look. I cannot use my 
voice, and cannot endure company, or I would come on to New 
York at once. If it turn warm I must avoid the cities during 
summer. The idea of getting to a conference and relieving 
Bishop Janes is quite exhilarating. I would like to attend one 
more conference, and then am ready to be superseded if it be 
God's holy pleasure. I love my Bible, my closet, my Saviour; 
love to pray, praise, and think of heaven ; but you know not 
how much I lack. Pray that I may be made 'perfect and 
entire, wanting nothing.' As for you and your children, God 
will 1 supply all your need.' Putting on the whole armor of God, 
you will be able to stand against all • wiles ' and all opposition. 

" Mrs. H. writes about your coming to the springs to see us. 
She was wrong. If you can make up any warrantable errand 
to the springs, come, but not on our account. I would not 
have you come down from a great work to pursue a ' flea — a 
dead dog,' as it were. If another better errand would take you 
thither we should be glad to see you, and that would be the 
most convenient point of leisure on our part, and freedom from 
interruption. Now unto Him that loved us, and washed us 
from our sins in his own blood, be glory ! " 

" Albany, July 18, 1851. 
"Rev. L. Swormstedt, — I have succeeded in relieving 
Bishop Janes of one conference, but it has been at great 
hazard. I was able to be in the conference room about half 
the time, but when there I suffered much. I was confined to 
my bed nearly all day on Sunday, being carried to the church 
in the morning just at the close of the sermon to ordain the 
deacons, but could not get out to ordain the elders. I shall 

17 



386 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



not go to the Michigan Conference unless there is a great 
change. My powers of life, the springs, are gone. Paralyzing 
influences seem to be universal. I have formed no plan for the 
future, and do not know as I need. The future of this world 
is with me of little account. Full Gospel hope in regard to the 
eternal future is all." 

" Schenectady, July 29, 1851. 

" To Rev. Jacob Young, — By the mercy of the great Physi- 
cian I am so relieved or improved in health (whichever it may 
be) that I can write a little, fifteen minutes at a time. I gladly, 
therefore, embrace the privilege of writing to you. The last 
letter from the family indicated that you were in comfortable 
health, though feeling the decays of age. This of course must 
be expected when a man has reached seventy-five or six ; but 
surely you experience less inconvenience than almost any aged 
man I have seen, and in this, like Wesley, you doubtless recog- 
nize the hand of God. The Lord hath done it, and he has 
done more, namely, preserved you in peace, given you a cheer- 
ful old age, and, above all, a useful old age. Thanks to his 
holy name ! I feel to thank him in your behalf, especially for 
your peace of mind and usefulness. 

" I improved in regard to everything but my voice from 
about the first of April, (except a turn of illness at my brother- 
in-law's at Morris.) My flesh is restored, my strong tendency 
to palsy and apoplexy is moderated, and I have more muscular 
energy, so that I can walk half a mile sometimes without 
injury. I have presided in one conference, occupying the chair 
about half of the time, and have traveled seven hundred miles 
in the cars to reach the conference and return to this place for 
rest and refreshment. Since my return I have had some serious 
admonitions that my state will not endure the labors of another 
conference. If Bishop Morris, therefore, continues in good 
health I shall not attempt to reach the Michigan Conference, 
which is the only one I have on hand. 

" I have preached but one sermon since a year ago last 
Sabbath. I now see no prospect of further pulpit labors. 
My voice allows me to converse and lead the devotions 
of the family with difficulty. It required a great effort 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 387 



to put the questions to vote in conference and ordain the 
candidates. 

" ' The Lord reigneth.' The times are perilous indeed ; but if 
Methodism is broken in twain again and again, I intend to 
make an effort to reach the fragment which Wesley contributed 
to build the ship, and see if it will not float me ashore. I 
think the next General Conference will be a scene somewhat 
mixed. You ' free-seat men ' must be fixing a firm hold of the 
rule, for otherwise it will slip out of your hand. I am glad I 
am fifty-four years old, and if my time was well improved, I 
would not object to seventy-six ; but I expect if I live until 
next May to be in a state sweetly secluded from the noise and 
strife and rage of the times. Will you not be able to write 
soon ? " 

" Schenectady, July 31, 1851. 

" My dear Son, — Yours of various dates have just come to 
hand. The account of the conference is interesting, and we 
were glad to hear from you, (you forgot to let us hear from 
Virginia at all,) and from some of the other friends. 

" We returned from conference about two weeks ago. We 
are resting in the greatest seclusion we can obtain in this part 
of the country, embowered by green trees, and surrounded by 
meadows and corn and oat fields, with a tame but beautiful 
scenery all around us. We are four miles south of Schenectady, 
thirteen north-west of Albany, and have the Heidelburgh Mount- 
ains four or five miles to the south, presenting a beautiful 
variety in that direction. 

" Dr. P. and wife have paid us a visit here, and a rich visit 
it was in blessings. Two of the family during their stay were 
brought into larger liberty, and one converted. 

" Week after next Dr. Jesse T. Peck is to spend a few days 
with us, and we hope that his presence and that of his wife will 
be a great religious blessing to us and the family." 

To his daughter-in-law, Mrs. V. M. H. : u May the Lord bless 
you with increasing light, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 
More and more strive for all the mind that was in Christ. More 
and more urge your way onward toward heaven. Help all you 



388 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



can thitherward, and especially strive to urge L. on in the way 
of life. The world is passing away. You are young, but how 
soon you will be old if you live. L. is almost twenty-three ; 
the time since I was twenty-three seems like a short autumn 
day. You will pass these years, up to the age of fifty, pleas- 
antly and delightfully if you spend them with God. But 
otherwise, when they are gone, you will cry out, ' All is vanity 
and vexation of spirit.' O may Infinite Wisdom guide you and 
L. in the ' paths which are paths of pleasantness,' and to the 
Canaan which is watered by the ' river of life,' clear as crystal, 
proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb !" 

Early in August Bishop Hamlin e enjoyed a short visit from 
his devoted friend, Dr. Jesse T. Peck. A letter from the doctor, 
published in the Christian Advocate, will interest the reader : 

"It has been my privilege to spend some days with this 
beloved servant of God. He is at the house of E. Ford, Esq., 
a quiet, lovely retreat for an invalid. I have observed with the 
utmost solicitude everytMng in relation to his health, and the 
probability of his recovery. He is a part of the time apparently 
comfortable. He sits up most of the day, rides out occasion- 
ally, and when in his best state converses — not without fatigue, 
however — with familiar friends. His countenance, his voice, 
and especially his walk, indicate at all times a broken constitu- 
tion. But the alarming symptoms of a diseased heart, which 
occur with more or less severity every day, show that he holds 
life by a very feeble tenure. 

" It is evidently out of the question for him to perform the 
duties of his office, or expose himself in any way to much fatigue 
or excitement. His experiment in attending the Maine Confer- 
ence has proved that all hope of resuming his labors must be 
abandoned. He was, as stated in Zion's Herald, exceedingly 
feeble during the session. He with great difhculty presided 
about half the time, was unable even to hear a sermon, and was 
obliged to ordain the elders in his room. He returned to his 
resting-place in a state of great exhaustion, where he is using 
every precaution, under the ceaseless care of his devoted wife, 
and with the kindest attentions from the family of his nephew, 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 



889 



to sustain that life which all feel to be so valuable to the 
Church. When he will remove from this retreat, if at all, is 
entirely uncertain. God may spare him for months and years ; 
but, according to present appearances, his departure, when it 
comes, will be sudden. 

" The state of his mind is just what would be expected by all 
who know him — perfect peace. It is delightful to be in his 
company. His intellect is clear as light, and there is more 
of heaven in the room he occupies than any place I know 
on earth. What a striking illustration of the power of 
perfect love is his calmness and rest of spirit, while he is 
fully aware that at any moment he is liable to drop into 
eternity ! " 

" Schenectady, August, 1851. 
" To Miss E. A. G., — I must confess I shall be disappointed 
if it do not prove at last that you innocently affect rather than 
feel, admiration for the works of Davis. Your interest in Swe- 
denborg and Bush is quite another thing. They blend the 
highest accomplishments of mind with an apparent sincerity, 
which leads me to the conclusion that they are phrenzied ; that 
a deep delusion led the former astray, and a serious mental hal- 
lucination bewilders the latter. Of this, in the case of Professor 
B., I see not how any one can doubt who has carefully read his 
* Keasons.' It was placed in my hands last summer by a disciple 
of his in Chicago. Last winter I read it, and was so utterly 
astonished that Professor Bush should have been governed by 
such reasons in his conversion, that I read it a second time, so 
as to be sure I understood it, thinking that I must have failed 
to appreciate the force of the reasoning. On reading it a second 
time I felt assured that a degree of insanity ' delirium ad hoc,'' 
or mono-dementia, was the only thing to which the course of the 
professor could be ascribed. I must confess, to speak plainly, 
that I do not believe a jury of any twelve men in this state 
could be persuaded, by the best attorney, to award twelve and 
a half cents to a party in court upon the amount of evidence 
produced by Professor B. in favor of Swedenborg's views and 
mission. If I had been of the party before reading that pam- 
phlet, I do think it would have converted me back again. 



390 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" You say, ' We must read impartially.' I did more ; I leaned 
to the professor's side. That is, I was so mortified that he 
should be converted without even a plausible excuse, that I 
read it the second time with a sincere desire to find some color 
of reason for his course ; for I had been his special admirer, and 
had placed his commentary in my library as fast as it issued 
from the press. And now, my dear friend, you must read im- 
partially also. And I beg you to read the pamphlet again, not 
as a rhetorician, or he will captivate you, but as a severe logi- 
cian, blinded to all the charms and attractions of his periods 
and modes of expression. Do this, and he never will con- 
vert you. 

" As to Davis I must say that your venerable father ought 
to be pardoned for refusing to read him. I have only read his 
* Kevelations.' His 'Harmonia' I have not seen. But I differ 
from my dear friend when she says, 'a mine of thought.' I 
would say (not * a continent of mud,' that is not bad enough to 
describe it) a pit of foul abominations. My friend, forgive me 
when I say you wrong yourself to be the advocate of such a 
man, of such frauds, (I cannot say delusions in his case,) de- 
signed, I believe, to overthrow the faith of Christians, and 
actually seducing unstable souls to ruin. 

" I should grieve if I thought this honest expression of opin- 
ion would lead you to conclude that I am bigoted and incapable 
of judging, for I desire to gain your ear and patience in a 
matter of so much moment — of everlasting moment. 

" You speak of progress. In reading the Apocalypse, do you 
not perceive that these times (as all respectable commentators 
agree) are to be characterized by the spread of infidelity, and 
the prevalence of lying wonders, in an eminent manner ? The 
'three unclean spirits' (Rev. xvi, 13) are the spirits of 'devils 
working miracles' or wonders. 'Blessed' now 'is he that 
watcheth.' How fearful the fact that all Germany, except a 
small remnant of evangelicals, is turning to atheism. How 
fearful the fact that already some sixty German papers in this 
country are now boldly advocating deism and atheism ! Some 
of these, too, are Church papers, professedly so ; but, in the 
haads of rationalists, are disguised advocates of deism. Is it 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 391 



not in harmony (' Harmonia ') with such diabolical enterprises 
against God and his Anointed, that some of these enemies of 
Christianity should appear in the garb of universalism — in the 
garb of new ' revelations,' ' spirit rappers,' ' clairvoyants,' and 
such like ? O my dear friend in Christ, (precious name !) 
' let us who are of the day be sober,' putting on the ' whole 
armor of God ! ' 

" My best love to your venerated parents. They seem almost 
parents to me. I long to see you all. May grace be with you 
all!" 

"Schenectady, August 25, 1851. 

" To Rev. J. M. Leavitt,— I am not surprised, nor should 
you 'think it strange, concerning the fiery trial.' It is 'no 
strange thing' that has 'happened unto you.' And if you can 
persevere in 'enduring,' you doubtless will find that true — 
' Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.' Let us endure 
hardness as good soldiers. 

"As to the Church, there is certainly occasion to be tried. 
' If it consisted of only myself,' may each member say, ' I should 
be tried, wonderfully tried, that the Church were so unlike 
what Christ's redeemed should be. And if in self so much 
exists to confound, surprise, and distress me, when thousands of 
others — some of them still less controlled by grace — are added 
to that self, is it strange that the sum total of unworthiness 
should be a sight grievous to look upon ? ' Yet, we should go 
on to think, God blesses the Church. Sons and daughters are 
born unto her every day in many places. Her members are 
passing by hundreds, weekly, in calm hope and holy triumph 
to heaven. More than the ancient number, seven thousand, 
have not bowed to idols. I am tried also. The Methodist 
Episcopal Church has much in herself to mour» over. But 
whither should we turn ? On every hand there are grievous 
things found in the midst of the tribes of Israel. On many 
hands, with (equal or) greater wrongs than exist among us, 
there is wanting the redeeming feature — real life — great activ- 
ity in religious matters, such as I find in many places among us. 
Inquiring into the state of other Churches, the report is spiritual 
death, worldliness like a flood sweeping in desolation over 



392 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Christendom. It is bad enough among us, but it is almost 
annihilation among our neighbors, if their testimony may be 
credited." 

The following is the close of a letter to Mrs. Eliza Garrett, of 
Chicago, EL, in answer to hers requesting advice as to the 
disposition of her estate by will ; which estate was devoted by 
this most estimable Christian lady to the endowment of the 
theological institution bearing her name, and located at Evans- 
ton, Illinois : 

" October 3, 1851 : I trust Infinite Wisdom and Goodness will 
guide you in this and in all matters. His name is 'Counselor' 
as well as ' Wonderful,' etc. He has indeed been ' a. friend that 
sticketh closer than a brother.' Let us put our trust in him 
forever. 'Under the shadow of his wings will I make my 
refuge.' I trust you feel a very near access to him day by day. 
An hour in the closet with Jesus, imploring his favor, his guid- 
ance, is worth more than the friendship of the whole world. 
May he ' guide you by his counsel,' and afterward receive you 
to glory ! " 

To a dear friend he writes in the following remarkable strain : 
" I often think of Peter's request (as tradition teaches) to be 
crucified with his head downward, as unworthy to be crucified 
in the form that his Master was, and it seemed to me I under- 
stood something of his feelings. It was in this state I labored 
so hard in 1842-'43, preaching from four to six times a week, 
besides all my editorial duties, feeling that he who blessed such 
a sinner ought to have my very life. These labors were cut 
short, you may remember, on the Gth of January, 1844, by the 
beginning of my illness, from which I have never yet recovered. 
And though I have not said it to go abroad, I have no doubt 
my present sinking state is traceable to these labors, and the 
accompanying and succeeding intense exercises of my mind. 
My unexpected position in 1844 [referring to his election to the 
superintendency] was a fiery trial. As I had made it an invari- 
able rule for years not to have anything to do with my own 
allotments, but leave myself wholly (like clay with the potter) 
in God's hands, and at his disposal, I could not then say yes or 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 393 



no to control my destiny without forfeiting, as I supposed, that 
great blessing which implied entire submission to God's will. 
On my knees I said from hour to hour, ' Lord, it is thy business, 
not mine.' ' Thou knowest all my weakness ; see thou to it.' I 
think this was in a spirit of deep humility and submission. I 
cannot write more of the history now. This has cost me several 
efforts, and I am completely exhausted. O may Infinite Mercy 
send strength to us all, for Christ's sake ! " 

" Schexectady, September 19, 1851. 

"To Eev. Bishop Janes, — Since I last wrote to you my 
health has not improved ; if anything the contrary. When I 
can get a few nights' rest I feel better ; but it is so difficult for 
me to sleep refreshingly that it operates much to my physical 
detriment ; but I am passing my time pleasantly, and find my 
blessed Saviour near. O what a mercy it is to have something 
to depend upon besides this world, its comforts, promises, 
health, etc. ! I believe God is preparing me for a better world, 
and I ought to be patient under the process. I trust I shall 
be by his grace and Spirit. 

" It is very grateful to have an interest in the prayers of the 
Church, and of God's servants. I am thankful for it. I trust 
you have finished your conferences without permanent injury 
to your health. You have had a year of wonderful toil. 
Thinking of you as I last saw you, very feeble, and unable to 
preach, I have feared exceedingly that you would break down, 
and perhaps fatally. Surely God has helped you, and I join 
with you to bless his holy name. 

"I was corresponding with Bishop Morris through the 
summer, and finding his health and strength were firm, I made 
no effort to reach the Michigan Conference, the weather being 
exceedingly warm at that time. I am not decided where to 
spend the winter. I can go west early in October with toler- 
able ease, I think, but it is possible I can arrange my business 
matters without going to Cincinnati. 

"I find they are about attempting a German church in 
Albany. I hope to be able to give something toward it during 
the winter, but must wait a little, as I find I have given almost 

17* 



394 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



three hundred dollars (mostly in the West) within eight weeks, 
and as I can only spare at about half that rate consistently 
during the year, I shall be compelled to check my hand. 

" I trust you will so moderate your labors during the winter 
as to have a good share of strength for General Conference. 
May God abundantly bless you and yours, your labor and your 
rest, through a long and useful life." 

To a very youthful friend he writes : 

" Schenectady, October 4, 1851. 
"My dear Walter, — I trust you are, like little Samuel, 
serving your Saviour with all your heart. You remember that 
several years ago, while sitting on my knee, you said, ' I give 
my heart to Christ.' I want you to remember this, because the 
remembrance of it will affect your own heart ; because it binds 
you to Christ in a special manner ; because Christ remembers 
it, and has written it down in his book for judgment ; because 
you will never repent giving your heart to Christ when very 
young — a little boy ; and because you must continue to do just 
what you did then — give your 'heart to Christ' every day, 
every morning, noon, and night, every hour and moment as 
long as you live. Here are a number of reasons, and I could 
add several more. For instance, 1. If you continue to give 
your heart to Christ he will cleanse it, and it will be pure like 
Christ's heart. 2. If you continue to do it Christ will dwell 
in your heart, and you will be his temple, more beautiful and 
glorious than Solomon's, which glittered with gold. 3. If you 
still give your heart to Christ he will make it a peaceful and a 
joyful heart, full of light and satisfaction and triumph. 4. If 
you still give your heart to Christ, and do it as long as you 
live, he will comfort your heart when your parents die and 
leave you an orphan, when you are sick and in great pain, 
when you die and leave the world, when you stand before the 
judgment seat. O then be sure and always give your heart to 
Christ ! The heart often struggles to get away from Christ. 
Then we must struggle to bring it back to Christ, and he will 
help us and enable us to do it. When we have given our own 
hearts to Christ we can tell others how to give theirs to Christ. 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 395 



what a heavenly work this is ! It is doing what Christ does, 
and what the Holy Ghost does, and makes us ' co-workers with 
God.' The Lord bless you, and may you always give your heart 
to Christ ! " 

" Schenectady, October 7, 1851. 
" To Rev. Bishop Morris, — Yours of September 30 was 
received yesterday. I am here yet, not improving; but Mrs. 
H. thinks growing more feeble, though I am certainly not as 
bad as during last winter. I do little but read my Bible and 
Clarke's Commentary, which is the only one I have at hand, and 
Wesley's Sermons, and meditate, pray, and write or dictate a 
short letter or two daily. It is, I trust, a profitable leisure, that 
is, to my soul. I endeavor to bring to my remembrance daily 
my great unworthiness, and at the same time strive to keep my 
eye on Christ, or I should sink into despair. It is well for me, 
indeed, that 4 Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.' 
Time does not hang heavy on my hands, for I feel that I need 
every moment that God shall give me. I think I am enabled 
to use it to gain clearer views of sin and of the Saviour. O if 

1 can understand with right affections these two things, I wish 
to know very little else. Pray that I may thus understand 
them. 

" As to labor, I do not think of it any more. I resign all. I 
know that I was ever unfit to be honored as an instrument of 
saving souls ; but God called me, I believe, to preach, and to 
occupy for a season the general pastor's office. Why he should 
have done it he will permit us to ' know hereafter.' Now he 
calls me to surcease, and this I think it easy to understand, and 
he renders it easy to accomplish. I am not unhappy in rest, 
though labor never looked so desirable as it now does. I have 
great conflicts, but great comfort. I think I can safely affirm, 
' I know that my Redeemer liveth.' O how wonderful that I 
am permitted, enabled rather, to feel and say thus ! " 

" Schenectady, October 9, 1851. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — What must have been the state of 
Mr. Wesley's mind and heart when in death he exclaimed, 
* The best of all is, God is with us ! ' I think infinite mercy 



396 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



enables me to realize in a measure the feelings which forced 
that exclamation from his lips. 

" I have just read Brother H.'s letter, and it moves and fires 
me to find one of such a spirit rising up to lead the sacramental 
host. O that every priest at the altar bore himself thus before 
the Lord ! One would then soon chase a thousand, and two 
put ten thousand to flight. Formalism would soon yield to 
the searching ministry and faithful warnings of such messen- 
gers of truth. Your hints in regard to the power of the sancti- 
fied I fully approve. Such power is now needed by our minis- 
ters and people. It would burn and blaze until infidelity and 
crime could not endure its presence. 

" We cannot come down yet. We will wait the order of 
Providence, and let you know when. Do not come up for us. 
We can easily get down in the boats. The family is well. 

" I think the mistake about letters will do no harm. We 
thank you for this epistle received to-day. 

" This and the two preceding days are among the happiest 
of my life. The Sun of Kighteousness shines with amazing 
brightness on my soul. 

" I must repeat our thanks for your last visit, because God 
made it a peculiar blessing to me as well as others." 

M Schenectady, October 15, 1851. 

M To Db. W. C. P., — May grace, mercy, and peace be multi- 
plied unto you and yours, through Jesus Christ our Lord ! To 
him be glory for ever and ever ! Amen ! We are trusting in 
the living God. We have peace through Jesus Christ. Unto 
him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own 
blood be glory forever ! 

"I have occasion to write this morning, which I do not 
regret, because, aside from the worldly circumstance which 
calls me to write, I can inscribe a word of praise to my blessed 
Saviour who has redeemed me to God, and you, who are 
redeemed, will readily catch the immortal note. You will 
quickly respond, ' Glory to God in the highest ! ' We sing 
that song often, ' for we have washed our robes in the blood of 
the Lamb.' 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 397 



" I agree with Dr. Bangs. I wish we could have been par- 
takers of your Tuesday's baptism, and perhaps we were, for we 
too were baptized through all that blessed day. It was almost, 
if not quite, the best day of my life. O how near was Jesus all 
the day long ! 

' My willing soul would stay 
In such a frame as this.' 

" Mr. L. is reading his new Bible earnestly. He says he feels 
happy, and is never tired of reading it. ' When I stop I can't 
get back to it quick enough,' etc. 

" Brother and Sister Barrows are here frequently, and perse- 
vere manfully. O for a general breaking up of Satan's king- 
dom in this neighborhood ! But I am weary, and must close 
this best part of my letter." 

" Schenectady, October — , 1851. 

"To Rev. Jacob Young, — My feelings were very peculiar 
on receiving yours last evening. The past rushed upon my 
memory, my heart's memory, in a most affecting manner, and 
my eyes became a fountain of tears ; but they were, though 
sad, tears of joy. Yes, I doubt not you are ready. Death 
would be life to you ; but perhaps your time is not yet come. 
Though to ' depart would be far better ' to you, yet to remain 
a while may be ' needful ' for thousands of souls around you. 
Selfish as the desire may be to me on this side of the flood, I 
cannot but strongly desire and hope that you may labor a little 
longer in the vineyard, if it please the Master. 

" I shall wait with trembling anxiety for the next message, 
and beg you to direct some one to inform us every day or two 
how you are. I forward several stamps (which I had on hand) 
for that purpose. I beg the privilege of sending you a little 
token of my love on the other page. I am no better. I wish, 
if that were God's will, that we could be with you now, but it 
is impossible. Truly, if you go now, I shall, in all human 
probability, be close after you. I believe God is preparing me. 
I wish I could learn more of ' ceasing to do,' but trust I am 
not an entire stranger to it, and I feel 

* There we shall meet at Jesus' feet 
Shall meet to part no more.' 



398 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Schenectady, N. Y., November 3, 1851. 

" To Rev. J. Young, — It was a great relief to us to receive 
your note, and find you could write a few lines with your own 
pen. Praised be God for his great goodness ! I had no doubt 
but death would be gain to you, but to remain in the militant 
Church a while seemed needful to thousands in Zion. I have 
long admired the grace of God, as exhibited in the last years 
of such patriarchs as Pickering and Bangs, whose last years 
seem so glorious a comment on the doctrine of 1 perfect love.' 
When you informed us of the strong confidence you had at- 
tained on this subject, we felt a great desire that your district 
might experience the full and protracted benefits of your fresh 
experience on that subject. We now believe it will. I know 
not but God has raised you up for this special purpose. may 
he crown the year to you with his goodness, may his paths 
drop fatness. May the whole district be as a Pentecost — in a 
flame of revival, and may your last days be far your best days. 

" My health is not materially different. I can use my voice 
feebly for brief family devotions. . Conversation hurts me. My 
mind is most of the time comfortable. I am looking for my 
change. 

" You will keenly feel the loss of Clinton. He was a lovely 
young man, and his death is a mystery. But the secret things 
belong unto the Lord. O may Leonidas strive to take his 
place in the Church, and be useful, and a great comfort to the 
family. If I feel able I shall try to write to him. 

" May God perfect his goodness toward you. Pray for us." 

" Schenectady, November 10, 1851. 
" To Rev. Bishop Waugh, — By the kindness and aid of our 
heavenly Master, I trust you are returned from your long West- 
ern tour in comfortable health, and that you find your family 
also well and prosperous. I am in the same place and family 
as when I wrote last, and if any thing, rather worse in health 
than I then was. I am not enduring any severe pain except 
from faintness and fainting ; and if I can refrain entirely from 
the use of my voice, this difficulty is much alleviated. I have 
a tolerable appetite most of the time, and rest at night more 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 399 



comfortably than I did last winter. I am afflicted with a diffi- 
culty in the bowels, so severe that sometimes I faint away, and 
suffer exceedingly ; and the least use of my voice mysteriously 
produces this complaint. It is now the most painful feature of 
my difficulty. 

" I have many reliefs in my sickness. I have books, and can 
read about four hours in twenty-four. I read Wesley's Sermons, 
Commentaries, and the Bible and Hymn Book, with great de- 
light. I stay with a very pious family, and have family religion 
around me, which is a great satisfaction. Best of all, I trust I 
am resigned to the will of God more than I formerly supposed 
I could easily be if deprived of the great privilege of preaching 
the word. O how thankful should poor, dying sinners be for 
Christ and the Holy Spirit. I have now nothing to look for in 
time, but what would be called ' inglorious rest,' some suffering, 
and patient waiting till my change come. Yet much of the 
time I am peaceful and happy. And when clouds arise they 
disperse again, and leave a brighter sunshine. 

' may my sun with smiles decline, 
And bring a pleasing night.' 

" I have not been unmindful of the severe labors inflicted on 
the effective superintendents this year. We have tried to re- 
member them in prayer, which was all we c<juld do. True, I 
reached one conference, in my anxiety to save Bishop Janes, 
but I ministered very feebly, though by the kindness of the 
brethren we got through comfortably. Probably my health 
suffered some by the effort." 

This letter will give his views in regard to the manner of 
giving : 

" Schenectady, December 19, 1851. 
" Dear Brother, — I was both pleased and edified to hear 
of your spiritual prosperity in the midst of some bodily afflictions. 
You have surely found that afflictions, though ' grievous,' work 
the peaceable fruits of righteousness in them that are ' exercised 
thereby.' I am pleased that you now find yourself in a sphere 
where you can labor for Christ by helping to sustain one of our fa- 
vored institutions. May you be permitted to labor successfully 



400 . LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" I should be glad to answer you at length on the principal 
topic of your letter, but my health will necessarily render me 
brief. I am not able— as you seem to suppose I am — to labor 
for the Church. I have preached but once in sixteen months ; 
attended only one conference last summer, and that almost took 
my life. I have been here six months in perfect seclusion, and 
cannot now get to the sanctuary, and much of the time can 
only converse in a whisper. The family is my parish, and here 
I have been permitted to see a revival — the conversion and 
sanctification of souls; four or five of each. I can write but 
little, but can read. I am not forsaken of God, and find my 
seclusion pleasant, very pleasant, while I am enabled to wait 
with composure on Providence. Pray that my last hours may 
be calm and peaceful, and that I may find contentment in the 
season of death. 

" As to donations and the use of property, I have for years 
diligently studied the subject, and had proposed to consecrate 
all to God. Perhaps I have failed. Yet I was not aware that 
my brethren deemed me derelict in the duties of benevolence. 
Those most intimately acquainted with my fiscal relations — my 
resources, my charities — have never, as I remember, told me 
that I gave too little ; but some have urged with earnestness 
that I gave too much. I am sure their opinion was, up to the 
time I entered on my present ofiice, that I was too lavish. In 
proof of this, the Assistant Treasurer of the Missionary Society 
admonished me earnestly in 1842 for giving twenty dollars and 
two town lots at one anniversary. Since I came into my present 
office I have given annually more than twice as much as I did 
before, and if my brethren, from judging me lavish, have come 
to gainsay me as parsimonious, I am at a loss why, unless be- 
cause my donations being then in the Ohio Conference could 
be known, and being now scattered from Maine to Iowa cannot 
be known. But this cannot be helped ; and I see no way but 
to submit to the ill opinions expressed of me, and bear it as a 
cross for Christ's sake. 

" As to the Ohio Wesleyan University, you, my dear brother, 
know its wants and its claims, but you do not know the wants 
of other institutions as well. I have been compelled for eight 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 401 



years to divide my donations among several. I should have 
made quite a saving of funds if I could have confined my 
benevolences to Ohio, and given one thousand dollars to 
your university. I might have saved my reputation, too, in 
your vicinity. But you surely see this would not do for 
one whose relations are the same to all parts of the Con- 
nection. 

"Brother Brush — my agent at Zanesville, Ohio — applied to 
me last winter to give you a donation. I replied by sending 
him a list of my donations for a few months, and asking him 
if he thought I ought to give (two hundred dollars I think it 
was) to the Ohio Wesleyan University. He promptly answered 
no. Now you think I ought to give a thousand dollars. See 
how difficult it would be for me to be guided by my brethren. 

"But you feel anxious that I should stop the mouths of 
'gainsayers.' Here I am determined. By the grace of God I 
will never do that. No class of brethren who choose to talk 
about me, as I infer they do from yours, shall ever be bought to 
hold their peace. If I were to give the University ten thousand 
dollars to-day, I would make it a condition of the gift that no 
announcement, public or private, should be made. If you think 
(as I do) that Christians are not using their property for the 
glory of God, I also think some others are using it for their own 
glory. I believe that to consecrate property is not only to be 
cleansed from the avarice of withholding, but also from the 
pride and vain-glory of giving. And I am sorry to say, that 
some of the applications made to me for aid have been urged 
by this strange, abominable argument, 'I want you to have 
the honor of,' etc., etc. This has been more humiliating to me 
than to be called ' stingy,' 1 close-fisted,' or whatever men please. 
How my heart quailed to see it announced in print, ' We want 
a Hamline Hall.' O let Christians, Methodists, have done with 
such things. - 

" Finally, I have given (I say to you confidentially) five hund- 
red dollars to the Ohio Wesleyan University: one hundred 
dollars in cash and one hundred dollars in land at the com- 
mencement ; above thirty dollars at different times in sums from 
five to twenty dollars ; one hundred dollars named by you, and 



402 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



one hundred and seventy dollars in a note of hand which I 
suppose has not yet passed from my agent, Brother Brush, to 
the treasurer or trustees. I think two hundred and seventy 
dollars toward your chapel are all I ought to give at present. I 
have given three hundred dollars to the Wesleyan University 
at Middletown, and to six other seminaries and colleges sums 
varying from ten to one hundred and fifty dollars. If I live I 
will next year give more to your chapel, and the year after still 
more. But if I die I cannot leave my name on a subscription 
paper. Please see that no announcement be made of any of my 
subscriptions. 1 forbid it. The one hundred dollars are to be 
credited to S., and the one hundred and seventy dollars to 
other brethren." 

" Schenectady, December 26, 1851. 
" To Mrs. V. M. Hamlene, — May almighty power and grace 
strengthen and comfort you and L. ! I cannot be thankful 
enough that Providence has given to him such a wife, and to 
us such a daughter. Persevere in your patience, prudence, 
piety, and prayers to serve God, and be a helpful companion 
and guiding spirit to L. He will, I believe, know how to value 
you, and your efforts to help him. Next to your being constant 
at church and faithful to class and closet duties, nothing could 
give me more pleasure than to find you are satisfied with your 
own evening fireside, and happy with your books and with one 
another. 

" I know no surer way to domestic unhappiness and personal 
ruin than for a man to be sick of his own fireside. Bind L. as 
strongly as you can to your home by silken cords of affection. 
His own dear mother always thought home a paradise. The 
most elegant party, before she was pious, had no attraction for 
her compared with her own pleasant fireside. I hope and 
think L. resembles her in this taste. You may pledge L. a 
home with us as soon as he gets a diploma (M. D.) in his 
pocket. And he may be sure the impatience is not all on his 
side. We too are longing for the time when somewhere (if our 
heavenly Father enables) we may have a modest residence, with 
an acre of land, in the best spot we can find, with rooms below 
and two above, on two sides of a hall, (one side for you and one 



LAST YEAR OF EPISCOPAL LABOR. 403 



for us,) and a common dining-room for all four, where your 
mother can teach you a little about keeping house, while 
you pay her for all with those sweet songs of Zion which I 
hope you are learning to sing and play during these winter 
months. Then if our children are prayerful and lovers of 
Jesus, we may travel together toward heaven, and in the 
mean time try to do a little good to others on the way thither. 
True, I am likely to be in the grave before then, but if so I 
pray that I may die so as to draw you after me to Paradise. 
I thank you for your letter. I answer soon that I may not 
appear negligent." 



404 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER XVm. 

RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 

We now enter upon an eventful period in the history of Bishop 
Hamline. We have traced him through a career of almost 
unexampled religious activities, inspired, by the consuming fires 
of the Holy Spirit, to manifestations of zeal which caused many 
a beholder to feel, that of him it might be said as of his divine 
Master, " The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." Human 
distinction he had not courted ; but wholly unsought and un- 
looked for, the Church of his choice had conferred the highest 
post of honor within her gift. But this dignified post involved 
solemn trusts, for which in his failing health he felt that he 
could not be properly responsible. That his views of the epis- 
copacy were not such as held by "the High Church party" his 
friends always knew; and the utter failure of his health fur- 
nished a reasonable, and, to his own views, an imperative obli- 
gation to resign an office to whose duties his health was no 
longer competent. With a noble bearing, which enhanced 
rather than detracted from his Christian dignity, we see him 
step aside, not descend from his elevated position, that another 
might take his place and do the needed work. Not a few of 
his friends thought this last act placed him on an elevation, 
before the Church, that quite exceeded any position he had 
before occupied. Some wrote letters of condolence, but others 
complimented him on his righteous heroism, believing that this 
pioneer act was just what was needed for the good of the 
Church. Said one to him in our hearing, " Bishop, it is worth 
being sick a lifetime to enjoy the privilege of furnishing such 
a needful precedent." 

But we must not forestall our subject. The bishop be- 
gins the year (January, 1852) with this solemn act of con- 
secration : 



/ 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 405 

" O thou Infinite Father of my spirit, in whom I live and 
move and have my being, and from whom cometh every good 
and every perfect gift, help me this day to renew my covenant 
with thee, and thereby consecrate myself afresh to thy most 
holy service, by thy Holy Spirit, through Jesus Christ, thy Son ! 
Help me to apprehend the solemn nature of this act, and to be 
deeply humbled and affected in view of the parties to this trans- 
action. Thou, O Lord, who condescendest to regard thy serv- 
ant in this solemn hour, art infinitely pure and perfect, and 
therefore infinitely exalted above the loftiest of thy creatures. 
' Behold, I am vile.' All my nature is corrupt, and without 
the cleansing power of thine Omnipotent Spirit there is no 
soundness in me. Yet thou hast condescended to reveal thy- 
self to me in the most wonderful relations. Thou art my 
Creator, and I am thy creature. As thy subject thou art my 
King, and as thy probationer thou art my Teacher and my 
Judge. As a sinner I may call thee my Redeemer, in which 
relation thou hast done, and (be astonished, ye heavens !) hast 
suffered for me, as neither my thoughts can conceive nor my 
trembling pen declare. 

" How unspeakable the benefits which I have received as the 
fruit of Christ's sufferings thou, O Lord, and thou alone, know- 
est; as well as the terrible and eternal wrath due to my sins, 
instead thereof! Blinded by sin, thy Spirit has in some meas- 
ure enlightened me, and shown me thy law, and laid upon my 
conscience the burden of my trangressions. Dead in trespasses 
and sins, thy Spirit did quicken that conscience, so that its 
burden should become intolerable, and cause my soul to cry for 
relief to thee. Helpless, and unable to escape from my burden, 
thou didst receive me and call me to life. Full of misery, thou 
didst send to me the Comforter to abide with me forever. Pol- 
luted in all the depths of my moral being, thou didst descend 
into the loathsome sepulcher of my affections, and not with 
* hyssop sprinklings,' but with the blood of Christ, commence 
the purifying of my unclean heart. And amid the frequent and 
guilty wanderings of twenty-four years, thou hast not utterly 
forsaken me ; but with as frequent and with as powerful calls, 
reproofs, and drawings of thy love, hast restored and comforted 



406 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



my weak and wounded soul. Thou knowest, O Lord, what 
thpu hast done for me in all these marvelous instances of thy 
mercy ; and full well thou knowest how impossible it is for the 
finite to comprehend the Infinite of thy pardoning, preserving, 
restoring love toward one most ungrateful and vile. 

" And now, O blessed God, thou crownest thy patience and 
pity toward me by causing me to taste at this present time the 
sweetness of thy comforts, and to feel that thine hand is 'not 
withdrawn from me ; but that thou witnessest to me, as well by 
thy Spirit as by thy word, that thou forgivest iniquity, trans- 
gression, and sin. Therefore, O Lord God of Hosts, Father, 
Son, and Spirit, I give myself to thee, now and forever, to serve 
and glorify thee ; to be subject unto thee cheerfully and con- 
stantly, in all states which may serve thy will and glory, 
through Jesus Christ'my Lord. Amen ! " 

** January 2, 1852. 

" To Eev. E. Thomas, — A friend deeply interested in the suc- 
cessful advocacy of the cause of holiness,- and who has read the 
articles in answer to H. M. (especially those of Rev. E. T.) with 
considerable care, begs leave to refer Mr. T. to the following 
works and pages bearing on the controversy, should he choose 
to notice them ; namely, ' Wesley's Select Letters,' p. 180, date 
1766 : f One of our preachers has lately advanced a new position 
among us, that there is no direct or immediate witness of sanc- 
tification, but only a perception or consciousness that we are 
changed, filled with love, and cleansed from sin. But, if I 
understand you right, you find a direct testimony that you are 
a child of God. 

" 4 Now, certainly, if God has given you this light, he did not 
intend that you should hide it under a bushel. " It is good to 
conceal the secrets of a king, but it is good to tell the loving 
kindness of the Lord." Every one ought to declare what God 
has done for his soul, and that with all simplicity; only care 
is to be taken to declare to several persons that part of our ex- 
perience which they are severally able to bear ; and some parts 
of it to such alone as are upright and simple of heart. 

" ' One reason why those who are saved from sin should freely 
declare it to believers is, because nothing is a stronger incite- 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 407 



ment to them to seek after the same blessing. And we ought, 
by every possible means, to press every serious believer to forget 
the things which are behind, and with all earnestness go on to 
perfection. Indeed, if they are not thirsting after this, it is 
scarcely possible to keep what they have; they can hardly 
retain any power of faith if they are not panting after holiness.' 
H. M. has come to the conclusion that a few, such as Fletcher, 
etc., may profess ; but Mr. Wesley says here, ' every one ought.' 

"Hester Ann Rogers says, (p. 50 :) 1 On Monday, April 1, Mr. 
Wesley came and encouraged me to declare what the Lord had 
wrought.' Query : Was Mr. Wesley inconsistent ? Did he say 
and do not ? Or is it probable, if he never professed it, that he 
never had a satisfactory evidence of his own experience of this 
great salvation? In a book entitled 'Preachers' Experience,' 
(p. 28,) in a letter to J. Haime, he says : ' By all means miss no 
opportunity, speak and spare not, declare what God has done 
for your soul ; regard not worldly prudence. Be not ashamed 
of Christ, or of his word, or of his work.' (See also pages 118, 
119 of same book.) Also page 146, experience of Alexander 
Mather. Mr. Wesley had requested Mr. Mather to give him an 
account of his religious experience. Mr. M. had complied, 
leaving out his experience of perfect love. ' After reading it,' 
says Mr. Wesley, 4 1 observed to Mr. M. that he had wholly 
omitted one considerable branch of his experience, touching 
what is properly termed the great salvation.' Mr. W. adds: 
* He wrote me a full and particular answer, which I have sub- 
joined.' You will find it on the above-cited page. There is 
much testimony in this book. 

"Also, see 'Carvosso,' especially the preface, from page 11 
to 19 inclusive ; also page 68. Oarvosso was not a divine, but 
he taught ' the way of faith ' as few divines ever taught it, (for 
example, Stephen Drew.) And his doctrine and manner of 
teaching have been thoroughly indorsed by the Methodist 
Church in England and America. 

" Have you read ' Memoir of Rev. John Smith, with an intro- 
duction by Treflrey ? ' If you have not read it, look at pages 
72, 142, 143, 165, 166, 173, 231-234, 242, 244, 245, 247, 254, 257, 
260, 280, 281. I quote from the old edition; the pages may 



408 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



not correspond with those in the new. They are selected to 
save you time, should you wish to look at them. 

" Have you read "Wesley's ' Short Account of the People called 
Methodists ? 1 It contains an account of one who (a young per- 
son) was awakened and converted, and awakened for full sanc- 
tification and obtained it, all in one day, and, if I recollect, all 
after ten o'clock A. M. 

"Notice also Clarke's comment on Psalm lvii: 'It is not 
enough that a man have a thankful heart ; he must declare it, 
and make publicly known what God has done for him. He 
should use all means in his power to make it known. 1 See also 
on Psalm cv, 2 : ' Genuine Christian converts may talk of miracles 
from morning to night ; and they should talk of them, and rec- 
ommend to others their miracle-working God and Saviour.' 

" Many prayers ascend daily that God may help the lovers of 
holiness. This controversy is bringing before the Methodist 
public many things which they ought to know, but have 
strangely neglected to learn. 

1 God moves in a mysterious way, 

His wonders to perform ; 
He plants his footsteps in the sea, 

And rides upon the storm.' 

Those who intend to crush the spirit of holiness little think 
that they are opening the treasures of truth and knowledge, 
awakening the prayer of faith, and warning the people of God 
to put on the whole armor of righteousness. 

" T. S. would be likely to converse with persons of his own 
opinions, as those opinions are well known, and few would hope 
to be able to change them. But very many would say that the 
spirit of H. M.'s articles are sufficient to show that he is con- 
scious of being wrong, and would be ready to inquire ' What 
can be his object ?' There must be some hidden motive." 

January 6. — To Rev. L. Swormstedt: "Many plans are on 
hand as to presiding elders, lay representation, pewed houses, 
etc. I suppose something is said, too, about offices. For my 
part the most agreeable thing I would desire is to get back into 
an annual conference ; travel two or three circuits ; have a glori- 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 409 



ous revival; see a few hundred souls converted and deeply 
pious ; die in peace, and go to heaven. Who knows but a gra- 
cious God may grant it ! The Lord bless you and yours." 

" Schenectady, February 19, 1852. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. Hamline : Dear Children, — We rejoice 
exceedingly that you are thoroughly convinced the world can- 
not make you happy. This conviction, if it be thorough and 
continually deepened, will be an important step toward real 
happiness. Yet do not forget that we may resign the world in 
general, but still pursue it in detail. We may resolve against 
it as a whole, yet seek and seize it by parts and parcels. To 
reject it as a whole is easy, because as a whole it has many 
things really repulsive, even to our unsanctified hearts ; whereas, 
divided up by Satan into baits of temptation, portions of it may 
look very alluring. The trout dreads the bearded hook, and 
persuades itself that the whole affair is to be dreaded ; but the 
skillful angler lays the tempting bait around its shady nook 
until all the fear is forgotten, and death is greedily swallowed. 

" If we can fix the purpose to reject the most alluring things 
of earth, we may succeed to eschew all. But this we cannot do 
without religion. We are so constituted that we shall choose 
the best apparent good. To the irreligious that 'apparent 
good' is the world. Religion does not appear good for present 
entertainment unless we possess it. When we lose the relish 
for it, we cannot remember how sweet it is. When we possess 
it, we wonder how we can forget its sweetness ; but if we lose 
our relish we do, and always shall, forget it. Now, dear chil- 
dren, choose, pursue, obtain, enjoy all the religion God will 
grant you, and you will be in no danger from the world." 

" Wednesday, March 3. — The powers of darkness have been 
repulsed. I have been joyful all the day. What a mercy! 
What a mjracle I am ! It seems impossible that I should be 
thus blessed ! My trials have for some weeks been very great. 

" Sunday evening, 7. — I have had a blessed day. I am almost 
afraid to say so. I am surprised to find myself repeating, 1 My 
God, the spring of all mv joys/ etc. 

18 



410 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



" Sunday, 21. — My flesh trembletli under a sense of his mercy. 
How wonderful are his blessings ! It seems as though my 
Saviour was trying every possible method to bless me ; as 
though Infinite Wisdom would exhaust itself in expedients to 
bless and save me. I would love to tell all the world the 
height and depth and breadth, the bottomless abyss, of mercy 
that saves sinners." 

"Schenectady, April 3, 18o2. 
" To his daughter-in-law, — We rejoice much in your relig- 
ious steadfastness. This is the chief thing. If you always 
cleave to Christ, he will cleave to you. Under his wings you 
will make your refuge amid all the calamities of life. He will 
give his angels charge over you to keep you in all his ways. 
He will open your way before yon. In affliction his everlasting 
arms will be beneath you, and his comforts will delight your 
soul. 

" Your conjugal fidelity and persevering care of our dear L. 
moves our hearts. O may he know how to value his treasure, 
given to him of the Lord ! Pray and labor on, and expect to 
be heard and rewarded with answers of peace. Tell L. my 
disease is progressing, and it seems as though I must suffocate 
when I lie down at night. I may not get to General Confer- 
ence, as I have no business to call me there as I know of, except 
to resign my office, which I can do here. Bishop Hedding is 
supposed to be near his end. The Philadelphia Conference, 
where he was to have presided, received a communication from 
him by the hand of a friend, and returned a beautiful response 
by a committee. I am apparently much better than he is, yet I 
might die first. Adieu, my dear children ! May the Lord be 
your everlasting refuge, and your God your glory ! " 

"Friday, April 16. — For several days my blessed Redeemer 
has appeared to me in a sense I cannot describe as ' altogether 
lovely.' I am so affected with the manifestations of himself to 
my soul, that I naturally desire to express (could I do it) my 
deep sense of his goodness to me. 

1 1 the chief of sinners am, 
But Jesus died for me,' 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 411 



has often expressed in some measure my feelings ; but now my 
sense of unwortliiness is so great, and the fact that he died for 
me is so assured, that no words which I can use seem to come 
up to the earnestness and ardor of my experience. ' Chief of 
sinners ! ' 1 Jesus died for me ! ' Let these be ever written on 
my inmost heart. And O, to think that He who died for me 
should renew me, and rekindle the flame of divine love in me, 
when it had burned low and had sometimes been well nigh 
quenched ! 

' Let every tongue thy goodness speak, 

Thou sov'reign Lord of all ; 
Thy strength' ning hands uphold the 'weak, 

And raise the poor that fall.' 

" P. M. — In my own merit I deserve nothing but perdition ; 
but I trust in Christ, and he saves me. I feel that he saves me. 
I am saved ! I know I am saved ! I never saw more of the 
glories of redemption than I have seen to-day. Never at any 
period of my life." 

A little before this last entry Mrs. Hamline says : " We had 
been speaking of his making an effort the next week to go to 
meet the bishops, and attend the General Conference. Talking 
of it agitated him, and now that he felt that he must resign, 
urging him to go himself to General Conference distressed him, 
and he seemed to sink. I expressed anxiety, upon which he 
said, ' You ought not to be anxious ; maybe the Lord will take 
me away before that time. I felt last night as though I might 
be baptized for the grave. I had a deep and peculiar blessing 
last night.' ' What a wonder that such a sinner can look calmly 
at death, and even long for it. And it is not the impudence of 
self-confidence, but the gush of heartfelt trust in Christ. I am 
reminded of the rainbow round the throne — it is all rainbow. 
If we were to depend on justice, what could we do ? But it is 
mercy — mercy ! If it please his infinite mercy to take me now, 
I will rejoice ; but I leave it to his wisdom. It will be right 
either way.' ' I had a blessed time in secret prayer to-day.' " 

To a friend he said: "Do you experience anything which 
answers to that saying, f. Except ye eat the flesh and drink the 
blood of the Son of God, ye have no life in you ? ' I think I 



412 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



have now something in my experience which just answers. A 
grasping of Christ with the soul for salvation. O the wonders 
of redemption ! Christ die for sinners ? Who can think or 
speak of it ? O the wonder that he should visit such a heart ! 
For some hours my heart has been like running waters. 

' "Well might I hide my blushing face 

"While his dear cross appears ; 
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness, 

And melt mine eyes to tears. 

» Jesus, I love thy charming name, 

'Tis music to my ear ; 
Fain would I sound it out so loud 

That earth and heaven might hear. 

' Yes, thou art precious to my soul, 

My transport and my trust ; 
Jewels to thee were gaudy toys, 

And gold were sordid dust.' 

I renounce everything but Jesus — all past experience. Every- 
thing but Jesus. That was a wonderful expression of Sister S. 
on her death-bed : ' I have nothing but Jesus to go to heaven 
with! I do not renounce what he has done for me, but I re- 
nounce all the rest.' " 

" Sunday, April 18. — O Lord, enable me to record thy good- 
ness as manifested to me in the midst of my vileness ! I am 
unable to speak of the one or the other. Thou only knowest 
my sinfulness and demerit, and thou only canst measure thine 
infinite love toward so vile a worm. I can do nothing but lie 
at thy feet, blessed Jesus ! Here I would fain be prostrate 
for ever. ' This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all accepta- 
tion, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of 
whom I am chief.' Should I reach heaven at last will it, can it 
contain one so vile ? One who was so plucked, as I am, a brand 
from the burning ! O, my blessed, adored Lord, prepare a 
strain for me, in which it should be fitting for one, so vile and 
so saved, to utter the mighty acts of the Lord toward such a 
one as thy vile dust before thee ! What song can celebrate a 
pity, a forbearance, a long-suffering such as thou hast shown 
to me, who now, all trembling with grief and joy — grief for his 



KES1GNATI0N OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 413 



guilt and ingratitude, and joy for the pardon, peace, and blessed- 
ness received of thee — labors for words to record thy goodness, 
and labors, and must labor in vain ! For almost twenty-four 
years I have known thy pardoning love, and from the begin- 
ning thy consolations, O God, were not small unto me ! Thou 
gavest me to see clearly the plague of my own heart, and didst 
then clearly ' reveal thy Son in me.' Thy dealings always since 
then have been ' full of mercy, full of love ;' but how often has 
this heart ' turned aside like a deceitful bow.' How often have 
I most grievously provoked thy displeasure, and yet how hast 
thou forborne that displeasure which even my own conscience 
awarded me; yet thou hast enlightened my darkness, healed 
my backslidings, restored my forfeited pardon, peace, and joy, 
strengthened me with thy strength in my soul, and this day 
fillest me with all peace and joy in believing. O my gracious 
God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, one in three, and three in 
one, ' I will praise thee while I have any being.' Amen ! " 

" Schenectady, April 21, 1852. 

" To the Bishops : 

" Rev. and dear Brethren, — With some hope that I may 
visit Boston, if I make no previous effort, I am compelled to 
decline meeting you in P. A friend and physician, who is 
familiar with my state of health, warns me not to attempt to 
go either to P. or to Boston. I may be compelled to relinquish 
both ; but as I could render you no service I ought now, I 
think, to give up the former. If I fail to reach Boston I shall 
in due time forward you another communication, with my 
parchment and resignation, there being no hope that I can 
perform any more service in the ministry. 

" I have been afflicted to see my dear colleagues laboring so 
hard the last year or two to supply my lack of service ; but I 
am thankful that God has brought you through. I have had 
great comfort in my retirement, and precious seasons in prayer 
for you and the Church, and I will be thankful for an interest 
in your devotions. In the absence of our venerated senior, 
removed to the Church above, may God, even our God, abund- 
antly bless you in all your deliberations and conclusions I 



414 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



" I propose on some fair day this week or next, if possible, to 
get on a North River boat and reach New York, where, after a 
rest, I trust to be able to find a boat for Boston or its vicinity, 
as some of my complaints render traveling on railroads impos- 
sible. Possibly I may have the pleasure of seeing you in 
New York. 

" May you have great occasion to say, 1 The Lord of hosts is 
with us ; the God of Jacob is our refuge ! ' 

" N. B. — Should the bishops settle their accounts, will Bishop 
Janes (as in charge of the missions) forward what may be 
coming to me as follows : Fifteen dollars to the German Mis- 
sionary in Albany for the German Methodist Church, fifteen 
dollars to Elias Ford, Esq., Rotterdam, N. Y., for the Rotter- 
dam Methodist Episcopal Church, and the remainder to Brother 
Perry, or to Brother Luckey (as Bishop Janes deems best) for 
their churches." 

" May 2, 1852. 

" To the General Conference of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church convened in Boston : 
" Dear Brethren, — Doubting whether the state of my 
health will allow me to reach the seat of the conference, I for- 
ward this communication at an early period that you may be 
informed on one point of moment to your future conference 
action. 

" Many will remember that when elected to the episcopal 
office I was in poor health. For several previous months I had 
preached but once, and was incapable of much labor. Travel- 
ing so improved my health that for six years I attended my 
conferences, and after a few of the first months performed 
considerable labor in the pulpit; but in 1849 my duties were 
unusually laborious. In the intervals of some of my confer- 
ences I took long journeys, and devoted myself with my col- 
leagues to the revision of the hymn book ; and in addition to 
my own district, which was large that year, the partial failure 
of Bishop Hedding induced me to attempt extra efforts. From 
that year's labor I have never recovered. Through the follow- 
ing winter I was much of the time confined to my room. 
Toward spring in 1850 my physicians urged me to get released 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 415 



from official duties and take a sea voyage, warning me that a 
tour of conferences during the summer would be extremely- 
hazardous, and might end my labors for life; but the severe toil 
likely to fall on my colleagues induced me to proceed, and I 
reached four of my six conferences, though in the last I was of 
little service. Since then (September, 1850) I have preached 
but once. Last summer I presided in one conference only, 
which I found, after the excitement was over, greatly aggra- 
vated my difficulties. 

"As to the nature of my disease in 1844, three physicians in 
Cincinnati gave me their written opinion (urging me in the 
same not to attend the General Conference) that it was a 
disease of the heart. Perhaps all but two or three who have 
carefully examined me since concur in the opinion. The 
inclosed letter from Professors Lawson and Comegys express 
the same view of my case in 1850 ; but whatever my disease 
may be, it incapacitates me for labor. Under my official re- 
sponsibilities, to be unable to discharge my duties was an 
affliction, especially as it bore heavily on the effective superin- 
tendents ; but I was comforted under this affliction, and being 
persuaded that I had done all I could, more than physicians 
and counseling friends deemed incumbent, or even warrant- 
able, I have much of the time been calmly and cheerfully 
resigned to this trying inactivity, and now I think that the 
circumstances warrant my declining the episcopal office. 

" Eight years ago I felt that Divine Providence had strangely 
called me to the office ; I now feel that the same Providence 
permits me to retire. I therefore tender my resignation, and 
request to be released from my official responsibilities as soon 
as the way shall be prepared by the preliminary action of the 
Episcopal Committee. 

" Believed of my official obligations, I think of nothing but 
cleaving to Christ with all my heart, and in my feeble retire- 
ment aiming to promote his blessed cause. I mourn over my 
unworthiness, personal and official, but trust in our great 
Prophet, Priest, and King for acquittal, cleansing, and eternal 
life. 

"Though my heart is moved at resigning an interesting 



416 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



relation to the militant Church, to the General Conference, and 
to my venerable colleagues beloved in Christ, yet I rejoice in 
those other relations, which I pray may always endure until 
they shall heighten into the fellowship of heaven, 

" 1 Of heaven ! ' There the sainted Hedding has found his 
rest. In his letters of condolence he used to say, ' I shall soon 
follow you/ He went before me ; but we are all going, and 
shall soon all be gone. Even you, so active in Zion, strength- 
ening her bulwarks, and beautifying her palaces, will soon 
have finished your work, and left behind you the traces of your 
footsteps, in your walks about the city of the great King. 
When you surrender your sacred trust to a younger generation, 
may the fruits of your present labors move them to rise up and 
call you blessed. And to this end may the blessing of the Lord 
your God be upon you in the labors of the present conference, 
and in the toils of a lifetime devoted to Christ's service." 

" Schenectady, May 8, 1852. 

" To Rev. J. Young, — Yours is just received. But for some 
peculiar difficulties I could get to General Conference, and wish 
I could, for I greatly desired to see you ; but for your difficulty 
of sight I would have written to you a long letter asking your 
advice, but as I have forwarded my resignation, and, I trust by 
divine guidance, come to my conclusions, I will only say, when 
my resignation comes before the conference I hope you and all 
my friends will vote for it promptly. I am embarrassed by the 
office, and I believe in the principle of resigning, and wish to 
set an example. Free from office, I may yet rally in mind, and 
then in body, and preach a little more. I should like to fall 
into the conference with Revs. Jacob Young, Trimble, Heath, 
Connell, etc., if God so orders. 

" I sent on my parchment and letter of resignation yesterday. 

" To-day I am wonderfully blessed. It is one of the happiest 
mornings of my life. I think God approves. I feel, as you say, 
that I must see you before you go back. 

" Please get our beloved Sister Young to write a line for you 
every other day. 

" O may God of his infinite goodness prolong your days until 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 417 



I die, and may I on wings of light and love meet your sanctified 
spirit ascending, or flit about your death-bed, and wait with 
angel spirits to convoy my venerable father to the skies ! How 
I long to sit an hour and hear you preach, ' Peace I leave with 
you ! Glory to God in the highest ! ' " 

May 9 his beloved friend Dr. E. T., now Bishop Thomson, 
writes from the conference room : 

" I am deeply grieved to learn of your state of health, and 
especially that it is such as to forbid your continuation in the 
episcopal office. Permit me to say that I love you, that I feel 
under great obligations to you, that if at any time or in any 
way I can serve you I shall be pleased if you will point it out. 
Most sincerely do I pray that your health may be restored, that 
your peace of mind may be uninterrupted, and that whether 
you live long among us or die soon, you may be ' filled with all 
the fullness of God.' I intended to call on you when I was in 
Peoria, but the boat did not stop. 

" You will do me a great favor if you will write me, and a 
still greater one if you will pray for me. I shall always value 
your friendship. Accept my thanks for your kindness. No 
bishop has been more courteous to me than yourself." 

Monday, May 10, 1852, the superintendents presented a com- 
munication from Bishop Hamline, tendering his resignation of 
the episcopal office, which was read, also a letter from his 
physicians ; his parchment of ordination was also presented, 
and these documents were referred to the Committee on the 
Episcopacy. A correspondent of the Christian Advocate of 
this date says, " It is a noble move on the part of this distin- 
guished bishop, and entitles him to the gratitude and high 
appreciation of all liberal men. Whether the conference will 
accept the resignation remains to be seen." 

Tuesday, May 11, 1852, the Committee on the Episcopacy 
reported in part as follows : 

" They have had the communication from Bishop Hamline 
under consideration, and present the following resolutions, and 
recommend their adoption by the conference : 

'•''Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God deeply to afflict 
18* 



418 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAM LINE. 



our beloved Bishop Hamline, and whereas he has been laid 
aside from active services thereby, therefore, 

" Resolved, 1. That we sincerely sympathize with our beloved 
superintendent in his afflictions. 

"Resolved, 2. That after having fully examined his admin- 
istration for the last four years, his adniimstration and charac- 
ter be and hereby are approved. 

" Whereas Bishop Hamline has tendered his resignation 
in the following language, to wit, * And now I think that the 
circumstances warrant my declining the office. Eight years 
ago I felt that Divine Providence had strangely called me to 
the office ; I now feel that the same Providence permits me to 
retire. I therefore tender my resignation, and request to be 
released from my official responsibilities as soon as the way is 
prepared by the Episcopal Committee.' Therefore, 

" Besohed, 3. That the resignation of Bishop Hamline, of his 
office as a bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the 
United States of America, be and the same hereby is accepted. 

" All which is respectfully submitted. 

"P. P. Sandford, Chairman? 

Dr. Sandford said it might be proper for him to say a word 
or two in reference to the report. The committee had had in 
contemplation a different report from the one presented, until 
some brethren, intimate with Bishop Hamline and his afflic- 
tions, assured the committee that nothing else, in the opinion 
of the bishop, could possibly relieve him from the burden that 
must incessantly press upon him. Consequently it was the 
opinion of the committee that this was the only course they 
could recommend in order to relieve the mind of the bishop 
from the extreme pressure that weighed him down in his 
afflicted condition. 

Dr. Bangs said that no man had a higher respect for Bishop 
Hamline and the episcopal office than he had, but he had other 
reasons than those assigned by the chairman of the committee 
for approving of the report. He believed the bishop perfectly 
superannuated, and that when he resigned his office he did so 
in the utmost sincerity. He thought that the present was a 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 419 



fair opportunity to set the precedent that we did not consider 
the doctrine " Once a bishop always a bishop " our doctrine. 
It was not so. The principle was recognized in 1844, when the 
resolution was passed requesting Bishop Andrew to resign. If 
they adopted these resolutions the principle would be carried 
into practical effect. 

J. A. Collins said he could not look with approbation on 
the resolutions proposed. It was clear that Bishop Hamline's 
illness was brought upon him by the increased labors of his 
position. He felt that when a bishop had lost his health 
through excessive and extraordinary labors, they ought not to 
accept his resignation. He might get better, and if that were 
the case, he presumed every one of them would delight to have 
him perform his functions as a bishop of the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church. He did not wish to place himself in conflct with 
so able and venerable a body as the Committee on the Episco- 
pacy, and would not be understood as doing so, but he would 
suggest the following resolution as a substitute for the last 
offered by the committee : 

" Resolved, by the delegates of the several Annual Conferences 
in General Conference assembled, That the bishops be, and they 
hereby are requested to return to Bishop Hamline his parch- 
ments, accompanied with a communication informing him that 
this General Conference declines accepting his resignation as a 
superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and grants 
him unrestricted permission, and advises him to adopt and 
pursue such course for the restoration of his health as his 
judgment may dictate." 

Mr. Griffith said he yielded to no man in his profound 
respect to the office of the episcopacy as recognized and defined 
by the Methodist Episcopal Church. He deemed it the most 
perfect scriptural model of the episcopacy that ever existed in 
the world. He was, therefore, exceedingly unwilling to come 
to the conclusion to which at last he did come ; but when he 
came to look at the subject fully, he felt himself forced to grant 
the bishop's request. If they would take the communication 
of the bishop, they would find that he set forth his case some- 
thing like this : He was in ill health when elected, and that ill 



420 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



health had been increased and augmented almost perpetually 
from the weight of his duties, until finally he was reduced to a 
state of utter prostration. The testimony of eminent physiciaDS 
was that his disease was that of the heart — a malady from 
which ordinarily there was no cure. Such was his condition. 
He also further states that such is his peculiar temperament 
and constitutfbn of mind, that while there is any sense of re- 
sponsibility resting upon him he could not enjoy himself. 
Under these circumstances he had come to the conclusion, that 
the only remedy was to be released from this sense of responsi- 
bility that rests upon him. He felt himself incompetent longer 
to discharge the duties of his office, and wished to be freed 
from them ; and he thought also that it was a providential dis- 
pensation of God, that he had it in his power to establish a 
precedent that might be of use in future time. From these 
reasons, said Mr. Griffith, the committee voted as they did. 

Dr. Holdich moved that the report of the committee be 
taken up item by item, which was carried. The first two 
resolutions were then taken up and adopted. 

Dr. Sandford said he had confidence in the judgment of the 
brethren who had had recent and intimate communications 
with Bishop Hamline. They expressed the opinion that it was 
impossible to relieve his mind from the burden under which he 
is laboring, except by the acceptance of his resignation. They 
would not have had a unanimous opinion in the committee 
on the subject, had they not been assured that there was no 
other way to relieve the bishop from his sense of responsibility. 

Dr. Cabtweight had been in intimate correspondence with 
Bishop Hamline during the greater part of his afflictions, and 
he spoke understandingly when he said that it was the bishop's 
earnest desire to have the privilege of resigning his office. He 
also thought it a good time, the set time, to test the principle 
involved in the resolution. 

Mr. Moody was in favor of the substitute. Bishop Hamline's 
services, before and since his election, had gained for him en- 
during fame, and entitled him to their most specific and positive 
regards, and to the honorary relation to that body contem- 
plated in the resolution offered by Brother Collins. "While the 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 421 



Methodist Church was racked with discord from center to 
circumference, he came to the General Conference, and with 
the might of his arm struck with the wand of his power 
that huge stalking shadow erst in our midst, and rolled 
back that portentous cloud which hung darkly over them. 
He thought that every principle of delicacy and of Christian 
courtesy would lead them to adopt the substitute proposed 
by Brother Collins. They knew the particular situation of 
the bishop's mind. It was the peculiarity of gifted minds 
to feel acutely, where those of a grosser cast felt not at all, 
and he believed that if they overrode the resignation tendered, 
and requested him to use his own time and judgment in 
seeking the restoration of his health, it would fall like a balm 
from heaven upon his troubled heart, and would have a more 
powerful influence in restoring him to health than any other 
means. 

E. P. Tenny said that from the statement of the brother last 
up it appeared that Bishop Hamline had struck down the 
shadow of a ghost that had stalked into the Methodist Episco- 
pal Church in relation to episcopacy. Very good ; but now 
they wanted the General Conference to strike down the thing 
itself, and he hoped the original resolution would pass. 

Mr. Pllcher did not rise to make a speech, but only to give 
a little information. He had a conversation less than a year 
ago with Bishop Hamline on this very subject, and he told him 
he intended to resign, and hoped the General Conference would 
set a good example by accepting his resignation. He suggested 
to him that he had better not resign, but take a superannuated 
relation, and then be left at liberty to pursue such a course as 
he should think most likely to benefit his health. He told him 
that that would not relieve the matter at all. The sense of 
responsibility was too much for his enfeebled frame. If they 
passed the substitute it would not meet the case, for the weight 
of the responsibility would still be felt, and he would feel it 
his duty to relieve his colleagues to the very utmost of his 
power. 

Mr. Shaffer said this was not a question of delicacy nor of 
sympathy ; it was not a question to be decided by resolutions 



422 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



of professed friendship, but it was a question big with the 
destiny of the Methodist Episcopal Church. One objection 
which the friends of our system had often to meet was the 
difficulty that grew out of the ceremony of ordination. The 
argument that they had but two orders in the Church — dea- 
conship and eldership — and that the bishopric was not a third 
order, was met by the question, " But why bring forward a 
distinct ordination like that of the Episcopal Church ? " If 
we had a precedent that an officer could resign, we could at 
once point to this precedent, and silence the objectors ; but 
why should they crush that good man with the weight of that 
office upon him ? He was in favor of the original resolution. 

Mr. Sliceb was in favor of accepting the bishop's resigna- 
tion. It would place the Methodist Episcopal Church in the 
United States upon a vantage ground which she had long 
needed. Adopt the substitute, and although the bishop might 
not preside in an annual conference, or make the appointment 
of a single circuit preacher, he would still have his proportion 
of episcopal authority and responsibility, and it would hang as 
a millstone about his neck. 

B. M. Hall said that in 1844 it was his unspeakable pleasure 
to read the famous speech of L. L. Hamline, and he felt that 
God had raised up a man to meet the crisis which they had 
reached. He agreed in every word respecting that speech 
which had been uttered by his brother from Ohio. He felt as 
though principles were advocated and positions taken in these 
days exceedingly injurious to us as a Church, aided, as he 
thought they were somewhat, by the effect of our service of ordi- 
nation to the office of Superintendent. He did not blame the 
outsider for insisting that they had three orders in the ministry 
before he was fully initiated into its policy. He really believed 
that the speech was worth more than could be estimated in 
dollars and cents. That speech made him a bishop. He went 
out to the Straits of Thermopylae just at the time to save us, 
and fought nobly. Now, he would beg the brother from Ohio 
not to dim the glory that encircled the head of that man, nor 
the reflected glory that falls upon his conference, but let the 
low church principles of that speech be carried out to their 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 423 



consummation by the very man who originated then. Then, he 
thought, the Ohio Conference and Bishop Hamline would have 
a double glory ; then the Methodist Episcopal Church would 
receive a benefit from that man which they had not received 
from any other living man. 

Dr. Holdich thought this was not a fair case for a precedent. 
He was in an infirm state of health when elected, and had 
worked himself down by a devotion to the duties of his office. 
He thought the failure of his health was not a sufficient reason 
for accepting his resignation, and he favored the substitute. 

Dr. Durbin asked himself the question, " Will it be well for 
Bishop Hamline that we accept his resignation ?" He believed 
it would be best for him. Brethren who knew him had told 
him it would be, and on their judgment he relied ; and there- 
fore it was due to Bishop Hamline that they grant his request. 
Bishop Hamline was competent to resign, and the conference 
was competent to accept his resignation. 

A letter was read, just received by Jacob Young, in which 
the bishop expressed the hope that all his friends would vote 
to accept his resignation. 

Mr. Clark said he recently had an interview with Bishop 
Hamline, when the bishop told him he should resign at the 
next General Conference. He said he should consider it almost 
a sin to retain an office the duties of which he could never 
hope to perform. Mr. Clark said he was convinced that if they 
would soothe his spirit, and place him in a position to recover, 
they must grant his request. 

Mr. Reddy offered a motion to lay the substitute on the 
table. 

The yeas and nays being called for and ordered, the substi- 
tute was laid on the table — yeas, 161 ; nays, 9. 

A certified copy of the action of the General Conference, 
signed by Rev. B. Griffen, Assistant Secretary, with the accom- 
panying letter, as requested by the conference, was received by 
Bishop H. : 

" It was ordered to consider and act upon the report item 
by item. 



424 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" The first resolution of the report was unanimously adopted 
by a rising vote. 

" The second resolution was unanimously adopted. 
" The third resolution was adopted. 

" The report was amended by appending the following reso- 
lution submitted by J. A. Collins, and adopted by the confer- 
ence : 

"Resolved by the Delegates of the several Annual Confer- 
ences in General Conference assembled: That the bishops be and 
they hereby are respectfully requested to convey to Bishop 
Hamline the acceptance of his resignation as a Superintendent 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church by the General Conference ; 
accompanied with a communication expressing the profound 
regret of this body that the condition of his health has, in his 
judgment, rendered it proper for him to relinquish his official 
position, assuring him also of our continued confidence and 
affection, and that our fervent prayers will be offered to the 
throne of grace that his health may be restored, and his life 
prolonged to the Church. 

"The preamble of the report was adopted, and then the 
report as a whole, and as amended, was adopted. 

" A correct copy of the Journal of the General Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. 

"Bostok, Mass., May 12, 1852." 

" Conference Booms, Boston, May 13, 1852. 

"Kev. Bishop L. L. Hamline: Dear Brother, — In compli- 
ance with a request of the General Conference of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, we herewith transmit to you a certified ex- 
tract from their journal setting forth the action of that body 
in accepting your resignation of your episcopal office. 

" In performing this duty we take occasion to join with the 
General Conference in expressing our 'profound regret' that 
Bishop Hamline's health has led him to feel it necessary to ten- 
der to the General Conference his resignation of his episcopal 
office. Most deeply and fraternally do we sympathize with 
him in his severe and protracted sufferings. Most earnestly 
and frequently do we invoke the blessing of God upon him. 



RESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 425 



We also avail ourselves of this opportunity to express to Bishop 
Hamline the high satisfaction which his association with us in 
the superintendency of the Methodist Episcopal Church has 
afforded us, and the sincere regret we feel at losing him from 
our number. Be assured, reverend and dear brother, that in 
retiring from the episcopacy you bear with you our high esteem, 
our warm fraternal affections, and our best wishes for your 
future welfare. 

" We remain your affectionate brethren in Christ, 

"B. Waugh, T. A. Morris, 
Edmund S. Janes." 

" Schenectady, May 14, 1852. 

"To Rev. L. Swormstedt, — The 'acceptance' was received 
on the 13th (yesterday) and gave me comfort. Others who 
crave the honors of office are welcome to them. I have more 
comfort in leaving than in receiving office, when I can leave 
conscientiously as I now do. I enjoy my mind better than 
usual since I resigned. I am now a ' local preacher, 1 and if I 
could only preach I would be very busy I assure you. But my 
power of speech, and almost of breathing, is gone. I will wait 
on the Lord and be of good courage. 

" The weather this spring has tried me very much. I have 
thought of taking a canal packet for Buffalo, and a boat for 
Cleveland, now before warm weather comes on, but fear almost 
to attempt it. I have a difficulty which I fear would destroy 
me on the way. And when I reach Cleveland I could not go 
in the cars. I wish to reach Xenia. 

"Dr. Palmer has written that he shall be here to-night, 
hoping to take me down the river in a steamer. Mrs. H. wishes 
me to go. Possibly I may venture, but I think not. 

" Schenectady, May 18, 1852. 
" To Rev. J. Young, — Yours is gratefully received. I am a 
happy man, for I feel that Christ my Lord is blessing me. I 
have Mends. ' If you have one,' says the proverb, ' think your- 
self happy.' You are one, and I think several more affection- 
ately hold me up in prayer. I wish to see you. 



426 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Dr. Palmer has been up to see me, spent two days, and his 
medicine was useful. It has checked my complaint, which was 
a great affliction. I cannot write much this morning. I thank 
you for your fatherly love and watchfulness, and I love you 
next to my God and my family. The bishops have written to 
me, and I am at rest. But above all 

4 1 am my Lord's and he is mine.' " 

" Hillsdale, October 2, 1852. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P. t — Your welcome lines came this even- 
ing just as I returned from a pleasant walk in the grove where 
is an oratory, and God was present. 

" Thanks be unto our God for his delivering mercy ! He is 
the same as when walking with the three in the furnace. He 
walks with you and will. i We will trust and not be afraid.' 
How short life seems. Yesterday we committed to the grave the 
remains of Brother and Sister Cox's little one, a year old, the 
only child of its mother. It was a bitter parting, but they bore 
it meekly and praised God." 

" Hillsdale, September 16, 1852. 
" To Rev. Dr. Roe, — Your remark that ' life seemed a fail- 
ure ' has been thought of almost daily since you wrote to me. 
But, my dear brother, if we get to heaven, probation will not 
be a failure ; and then, in that blessed world, God will employ 
us in serving and glorifying him, and life, immortal life, will 
not then be a failure. Let us therefore lift up our heads and 
rejoice. Our redemption is nigh if we steadfastly believe. I 
am in a somewhat improved state of health, and desire to reach 
Ohio this fall if possible." 

"Hillsdale, 1852. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Do you not know that comparisons 
are odious, especially such as place one in so strange a posi- 
tion ? What are such letters as mine worth ? If they bear the 
relation to yours hinted at, (surely not sarcastically,) you should 
stop writing if you ever intend to be forgiven. But you must 
not stop writing ; of course you must cease such comparisons. 

" You are safe under the ' sheltering wing' and in the ' ever- 
lasting arms.' I read just now, with profit, the account of 



KESIGNATION OF THE EPISCOPAL OFFICE. 427 



Herod, f who was sorry, nevertheless, for his oath's sake,' sent 
and beheaded John. What ! Herod so regard his oath ! And 
by 'two immutable things' we have a strong consolation, to 
whom Christ says, 'Ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto 
you.' Read that chapter in Mark, and while Herod's promise, 
oath, fidelity, and murder are before you, think of the infinitely 
benevolent Jesus, his love, advent, sufferings, death, promise, 
oath, and rejoice. I rejoice with trembling. 

1 And now, in age and grief, thy Name 
Doth still my languid heart inflame, 

And bow my faltering knee : 
O yet this bosom feels the fire ; 
This trembling heart and drooping lyre 

Have yet a strain for thee ! 

'Yes! broken, tuneless, still, Lord, 
This voice, transported, shall record 

Thy goodness, tried so long ; 
Till, sinking slow, with calm decay, 
Its feeble murmurs melt away 

Into a seraph's song.' " 

" Hillsdale, November 13, 1852. 

"To Rev. John M. Leavitt, — May grace, mercy, and peace 
be with you in all your work and all your labors of love, so 
that God's vineyard may prosper more and more under your 
culture. It is a great but blessed enterprise of immortal mo- 
ment in which you are engaged, and to which you have conse- 
crated life. And do you not, in the light of transpiring events, 
congratulate yourself and adore Christ more and more, that you 
are snatched from the world and placed on the walls of Zion ? 
Look at the great Webster, fading away and forgotten as a 
dream. Not one of his works, lauded as he is, is of so great 
moment as to have been the means of plucking one sinner as a 
1 brand from the burning.' Surely, in the light of such a close 
of such a life, God's humble ministers should renew the praises 
of Him who brought them out of darkness into his marvelous 
light, and commissioned them to teach others the new song. 

"May you long continue a messenger of life to poor dead 
souls ! We have peace through the blood of the Lamb ; ' peace 
which passeth all understanding.' 



428 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Christian regards to B. I believe she will be brought off 
conqueror through Him who * gave himself for us.' " 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Jesus is precious! Yesterday he 
gave me good measure into my bosom. I trust in his word. 
What more can he say to me than ' I am thy salvation ? ' O 
blessed be his name for evermore ! 

" Now you see 1 how long a letter I have written with mine 
own hand.' I can add nothing, only that you find, as the poor 
heathen said. ' What God is there that delivers after this sort ? ' 
or words to that effect." 

"Hillsdale, December 29, 1852. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — I could not undertake to write this 
morning without strong inducements, as my head reels like a 
fresh-water man's on a mast, while I write. I will say, however, 
that our beloved sister's letter for Christmas has a full response 
in my heart. 1 Glory to God in the highest ! ' I hope to join the 
song above with that ' identical advent throng ' referred to in 
hers. My heart prolongs it here, ' Glory to God in the highest ! 1 

"Connected with this is Phebe's excursion and Sabbath- 
school. I could not but exclaim, ' Out of the mouth of babes 
and sucklings hast thou ordained strength.' 'How beautiful 
upon the mountains are the feet of them that bring good 
tidings,' etc. I hope those feet will be light as the roe upon 
the mountains in God's errand for forty years, 

' And then more slowly move 

In messages of love, 
Till her own joyful heart shall prove 
The bliss of those above.' 

" The Lord bless you all for Christ's sake. Amen. I am sick, 
and if I grow worse will be conveyed to the cars and come and 
die with you. I am fall of joy." 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



429 



CHAPTER XIX. 

HEAVENWARD BREEZES HIS LIBERALITY. 

The years 1853 and 1854 were spent mostly in Hillsdale, in a 
beautiful location, surrounded by his family, and diffusing 
largely of his means for the upbuilding of Zion, but with no 
abiding improvement in health. The state of his own mind and 
the outgushings of his spiritualized affections toward others, 
are portrayed in his letters and occasional short noticings in 
his diary. Early in the year he says : "lam thinking much of 
the heavenly country. I think I sometimes feel its breezes. O 
for the everlasting home ! to press on toward it every moment." 

" To Dr. ajtd Mrs. P. — March 23, — May all the precious 
blessings of the new covenant be yours, and may your hearts 
be constantly" enlarging to receive more and more. To 'grow 
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ ' is, I am aware, your daily work. We think often that 
we see in your letters to us the signs and proofs of your ad- 
vancement. O that I could keep pace with you in the pilgrim- 
age of our souls to glory. Jesus is precious. We trust. Our 
eye is upward. Help us by your prevailing prayers." 

P Hillsdale, April 19, 1853. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. Palmer, — Your most unexpected offer 
to go to Europe and bestow on me by the way your most grate- 
ful Christian society and prayers, and a watchful care of my 
health and comfort, has greatly affected me. It is just the 
mode of traveling I should have desired of all conceivable 
modes, and when your letter came to hand I had scarcely a 
doubt but that I should go. True, I was in a most difficult 
position to tear myself from, and saw it at the first glance ; but 
the object seemed so momentous that I supposed there could 



430 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



hardly be a question as to the propriety of my acceding to your 
generous proposal. There is no question, but for a change in 
my health, which takes away all my courage and renders me 
fearful in the extreme. The point of difficulty, is the oppression 
of confinement and company. When you were last here this 
was in a measure palliated, but has returned upon me with 
great severity. Last Sabbath (a precious Sabbath to my soul) 
I attempted to lead in the prayer-meeting ; broke down ; had 
one of my worst turns ; and since then I can scarcely endure to 
be in the house at all, and feel comfortable only while in the 
fresh air abroad. I stay, probably, from twelve to fourteen 
hours in twenty-four, either in the garden and field, or at my 
open window, with the fresh chill breezes of April fanning me. 
How then can I endure the cabin or the state-room, with a 
hundred passengers, less or more, around me, and the horrors 
of sea-sickness superadded ? I believe I should die. I cannot 
go. The imagination of the nausea, confinement, and com- 
pany make me sick, truly sick. 

" We intended to see you and settle it by face to face dia- 
logue. But I dread New York as much as I dread a small 
sickness — an ague or gentle rheumatism — and defer coming a 
little while. We still intend to come. Pray for us, and be 
patient with 'your own' poor 'brother.' 

" I am blessed in soul. Jesus is mine. The Sun of Right- 
eousness shines upon — within me. The everlasting day rises 
on my soul. Praised be His holy name who redeemed me — us — 
unto God by his blood." 

" Hillsdale, May 10, 1853. 

"To Dk. and Mrs. P., — This is my birth-day. Fifty-six 
years old to-day. The years ! Where are they ? Fled for ever, 
except to memory and for judgment. I am 'old and gray- 
headed.' O Lord, 'forsake me not.' I will not dwell to in- 
form you of new resolutions, hopes, fears, comforts, pains, etc., 
but pass to the theme of your last. 

"I cannot do better than to speak, first, of the Palestine Mis- 
sion, and, secondly, of myself in relation to it. 

" I have long inclined to the opinion that the Jews will be 
literally gathered into Palestine; that, either personally or 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



431 



spiritually, Christ will reign over them there; that before 
their gathering occurs they will be, generally, converts to 
the Christian faith; that their dispersion, not their gathering, 
will facilitate their conversion, just as Chinamen in America 
could be more easily Christianized than in China. Of course 
I incline to think that you could do more for them in New 
York than you could in Palestine. But I only incline to 
this view. 

" As to myself, I am totally superannuated. I might get to 
Palestine if on shipboard, but I should be a nuisance on its 
soil, with scarcely power of locomotion, and scarcely power to 
be at rest. If being there could enable me to show how deeply 
I am a debtor both to the Jew and to the Gentile, I would 
freely go for that end. Yet if it were the mere show of con- 
scious indebtedness it would not be wisdom to go. I will wait 
on the Lord as to my future, and hold myself ready to follow 
all the openings and leadings of his Providence. Pray that I 
may be willing to be guided. 

" I am now solicitous for you. Not for your safety but for 
your usefulness. You have several times conversed as though 
you might leave New York. Do not hasten. It has been a 
great field for you. Satan can spare you from it. Can Jesus 
spare you ? I doubt. 

" I intended to write more but cannot. Pray much for your 
afflicted brother, that his faith fail not." 

11 May 23, 1853. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — I believe Jesus is becoming more 
precious. I am learning in the school of Christ. Yesterday 
we heard of the death of Rev. Dr. Tomlinson, perhaps the 
most accomplished pulpit orator we had in our Church. In 
1840, if a bishop had been elected, he would have been chosen 
on the first ballot by an overwhelming majority. The diffi- 
culty with the South intervened, and he left them and came 
to us, and yet so managed as to lose his popularity in some 
measure. He was a long time president of Augusta College, 
Kentucky, and few more talented men ever entered the Meth- 
odist pulpit. He was my friend — is gone, and sadness comes 
over me." 



432 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Hillsdale, October 24. 

" To Dr. and Mbs. P., — We are greeted now with the first 
snow of the season. It falls thick, and begins to whiten the 
fields. I think of a world without storms, and seem to be 
almost there. I have had, all day, strange distress — a pain in 
my back which almost robs me of my breath. I think of a 
world without pain, and am fast approaching it. 

" I have a grandchild one year old, a weeping child ; I think 
of a world without tears, and hope to dwell in it for ever. I 
beseech you pray that I may get safely through.' 

u Hillsdale, December 5, 1853. 
" To Hev. L. Swormstedt, — You have now a great mission- 
ary meeting. What would you think, if I should turn mission- 
ary, on my own hook, to Italy, Palestine, or India ? There is 
no great hope, however, for age creeps on apace. 'I am,' as 
Brother Quinn said in 1843, ' a feeble old man.' O may we all 
be ready to be crowned ! Jesus is precious, and we may get 
very near to him." 

" Hillsdale, January 3, 1854. 
" To Dr. axd Mrs. P., — The new year opens pleasantly upon 
us. Jesus is precious. We did not go out to meeting on Sab- 
bath, but had a pleasant season at home. I am some better. 
Hope you feel more and more the presence of our adorable 
Head. 

" We may expect great things this year. Prophecy unfolds ; 
vails are being lifted ; our God will soon come and will not 
keep silence ; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very 
tempestuous round about him. We trust to be gathered with 
his saints, for we make a covenant with him by sacrifice. How 
warm my heart grows as I write these broken words ; but we 
go where joys shall flow in equal numbers. Praise be to God 
and the Lamb ! " 

" Hillsdale, January 6, 1854. 
" To Dr. L. P. Hamt.tne : My dear Son, — We were very lonely 
after you left us. Our prayers followed you on your way. I trust 
you roused up and was cheerful on your return home. We are in 
a world of suffering, and must have our share with others. We 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



433 



can find no true refuge but in Christ. In youth, as well as in old 
age, we need a Saviour. O my son, my dear son, rest not but 
on the bosom of Jesus. I can scarcely write this evening, but 
it seemed a little like talking with you to write a few words, 
and I thought I would attempt it, for after you went away I 
found it so lonely without you, that I regretted your departure, 
even though reason approved it, seeing I expect you down 
again soon. I will add a little in the morning. I trust you 
will be blest through Christ our Lord." 

"Hillsdale, March 22, 1854. 

" To Rev. M. P. Gaddis, — Since I received your last, I have 
been afflicted, among other things, with something like a felon 
on my right hand forefinger, but will, notwithstanding, pen 
you a few lines. I have heard of the injury you suffered, through 
the Advocate, and am thankful that you were not more seriously 
wounded, though I know not how bad it may prove to have 
been. I trust you are as well as usual now, and enjoying, as 
you are wont, the conscious presence and smile of the Saviour. 
Just now in morning devotions, where 4 Jesus answers prayer,' I 
thought how utterly impossible it would be for me now to have 
any sufficient support or comfort without Christ. How dark 
the world would be to me if no ' Sun of Righteousness ' illum- 
ined it ! But the Lord God is a sun and shield. He will give 
grace and giory. O may he lighten our toils and burdens, and 
make our way plain before our face ! 

" I hear of great revivals among you. Praise God for this. 
Revivals are the great hope of the Church. There can be no 
Church without them. May the people and preachers never for- 
get it. I pray that Brother Caughey may be a son of thunder in 
Ohio. He is a heavenly-minded man, unlike some who went be- 
fore him as revivalists, and, I think, worthy of great confidence. 

" In regard to health, I am no better — not quite so well, yet 
have improved a little, under a new medicine from Dr. Palmer, 
within two weeks. I intend to leave here within two weeks, 
and spend some time at Sharon Springs in New York. My ad- 
dress will be Schenectady, New York, for some weeks to come, 
where I shall be most happy to hear from you." 

19 



434 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



" Hillsdale, April 17, 1854. 

" To Rev. C. Kingsley, — The receipt of yours of April 11 
(which came to hand this day) is hereby acknowledged. I 
thank you for so valuable a letter on the subject of Christian 
and general education, in the suggestions of which I do most 
cordially agree ; nor do I less approve of the object you have 
in view — an 'endowed biblical department in the Alleghany 
College.' Had your special application for some 'material 
aid' to so good an object been received some weeks ago, I 
would have responded with less embarrassment to myself, and 
more gratefully to you. As it is, I could not resist your appli- 
cation, so inoffensive, yet faithful in its terms, (and fortified with 
that argument from sacred Scripture which always leads me to 
self-examination,) only from a clear sense of duty in view of the 
following facts : 

" I have sought, for some months, to concentrate my pecuniary 
means of usefulness at some very needy point, with the purpose 
of a very special effort, on an extensive scale, to furnish the 
means and facilities of education to a large number of young 
persons. For this end I have been in correspondence with 
frontier ministers, where the field is comparatively unoccupied, 
and yet is so filling up with emigrants that no time should be 
lost. To accomplish this enterprise I have pledged to a friend, 
who joins me in it, all I can possibly spare for years to come in 
this good cause — more than one half of all my yearly income — 
and ultimately about half of all my possessions. I have done 
this under a conviction that my small means would be more 
beneficently employed in this form than in any other pre- 
sented to my mind at the time when the pledge was given. 
Under the pressure of such an engagement I feel compelled, 
necessitated, to decline aiding the A. C, while at the same 
time I express a sincere interest in your enterprise, and pray 
that the great Master will crown your efforts with complete 
success. 

" I greatly wish I had strength and opportunity to explain to 
you and receive your counsel in the great enterprise I have 
undertaken. Should my health improve I may visit you and 
other institutions for this purpose. I will so far confide in 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



435 



your present silence on the subject as to say, I propose to 
expend fifty thousand dollars in this work, (not at once, but as 
fast as can be safely done,) and that the plan can at this stage 
of it be shaped, without embarrassment, as wisdom may dictate. 
Could you give me any hints to aid me ? 

"My health has improved, under a new regimen, for four 
weeks past. It is difficult for me to write, and begging you to 
excuse the haste and almost illegibility of this letter, I remain 
affectionately yours." 

" Schenectady, Thursday, April 20.— Left Hillsdale, land of 
shadows, this day noon. Came to this place in the cars, and, 
too weary to proceed, put up with my beloved wife and faithful 
servant at Givens's Hotel. Met Professor Newman. Not able 
to converse. 

" Sunday, 23. — At Mr. E. Ford's, Rotterdam. Attended 
church in P. M., but felt unusual dryness. The local brother 
gave us a good sermon, however, and here is a people devoted 
to God. 

" Monday, May 8. — The Lord has blessed me this day. I feel 
that Jesus is unspeakably precious. My soul breathes after 
him. ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ! ' is the exclamation 
of my soul, visited by the Spirit of the Son sent forth into my 
heart, crying, Abba, Father. 

" Tuesday, 9. — ' I will extol thee, my God, O King, and will 
praise thy name for ever and ever ! With my whole heart will 
I praise thee.' This has been a day of precious blessings to my 
soul. Lord, thou knowest if I am thine. Let me know myself, 
and not mistake where eternity depends. 

" Sharon Springs, Sunday 14. — This lovely Sabbath is spent 
without any but closet privileges; but these are precious. 
There is a chapel half a mile off, occupied by the Lutherans 
and Methodists alternately. This is the Lutheran's day. It 
seemed to me it would be a feast to my soul to hear the 
Lutheran, but was too ill to go. I am here at a hotel, but the 
family is very kind. It is retired at this season, though in one 
month it will be crowded with visitors. I hope to test the 
waters, and get away before others come in, and then, if there 



436 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE 



is encouragement, I may return in September: Lord, give me 
this day the waters of life ! 

" Insatiate to this spring I fly ; 

I drink, and yet am ever dry : 

Ah ! who against thy charms is proof? 

Ah ! who that loves, can love enough? " 

" Friday, 19. — I did not sleep last night until twelve o'clock. 
The Lord greatly blessed me. I think I shall yet do more for 
the Church, pecuniarily, at least. 

" Jesus, the vision of thy face 

Hath overpowering charms ; 
Scarce shall I feel death's cold embrace 

If Christ be in my arms." 

Jesus ! Jesus ! Jesus ! whom have I in heaven but thee ? Jesus 
died for me. How wonderful! and yet I sometimes spend 
days in which it does not affect my heart ! Without the light 
of the Holy Spirit we cannot realize it more than the brutes. 
What can human hearts be made of ? . . . 1 Jesus, my all, to 
heaven is gone.' I feel as I did when taken ill in 1844 ; the 
same weakness, some of the same joy. I have the same views 
of Christ. 

" Thursday, 25. — Have been visited by Rev. David Brooks, 
presiding elder of St. Paul District of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in Minnesota. Have donated twenty-five thousand 
dollars for the university in Minnesota. This is about one 
fourth of my estate. I have done it in a wholesome dread of 
such Scriptures as 'How hardly shall they that have riches 
enter into the kingdom of heaven.' God has prospered me 
without my own agency, and added to the value of my pos- 
sessions. I have been giving about one thousand dollars 
annually, one half of my income, in small donations here and 
there, and tried to think I was doing my part ; but of late I 
have felt dissatisfied, and began to feel that f was 'laying up,' 
or Providence was laying up for me, and that it might be my 
duty to invade the principal. Now I have done it. My 
twenty-five thousand dollars will reduce my possessions so 
much. O Lord, render me cheerful in giving, happy in the 
hope of doing good, and sanctify the offering ! 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



437 



" Schenectady, N. Y., Saturday, 27. — Left the springs this 
morning at eight o'clock, and, with great fatigue, reached Mr. 
Ford's at five o'clock P. M. I trust the waters have done me 
some good ; but my soul is not so fruitful in righteousness as 
to render me profitable to others, and satisfied in conscience. 
I attempted to be useful to Mr. L., the keeper of the house, but, 
for want of more of Christ in me, I fear I did him no good. 
Brother Parsons, the preacher, was kind to us. The Lord 
reward him abundantly. 

" Tuesday, 30. — Brother Bowman, agent of the Mount Vernon 
Institution, Iowa, has been with me since yesterday morning. 
I have pledged him another twenty-five thousand dollars for a 
college at Mount Vernon, if he succeeds in getting a charter, 
and the Iowa Conference and Northwestern University sep- 
arate. Thus, within one week, I have endeavored to consecrate 
half I have on earth to my blessed Redeemer. I should have 
no comfort in this but for the strong hope that, when I am gone, 
some of God's gifts to me shall be my voluntary gift to his 
blessed cause. O how condescending in him to seem to make 
something mine, that my heart, moved by his own goodness 
and Holy Spirit, may seem to return something to him. How 
fondly do I hope that in after time a Judson, or a Wesley, or a 
Nast, or a Jacoby may be nourished up for the Church in the 
very institutions which I feebly assisted to rear. I rejoice that 
my dear Mrs. Hamline is so cheerfully, cordially, and forwardly 
united with me in these considerable donations of fifty thousand 
dollars. We have still fifty thousand dollars left. In view of 
my son and his family, and of two families (a brother's and 
sister's) which I have principally to support, I think it will be 
right for me to keep my estate at about its present value. 
If it increases, or lands advance in value, Lord, help me to 
watch against riches ! And now, O Lord, show me thy glory 
in the face of Jesus Christ ! Amen. 

" Thursday, June 8. — Yesterday attempted a journey to New 
York. Reached Albany very much exhausted, and returned to 
Schenectady, and then home. This seems to be (very likely) 
my last effort to reach New York. It is too severe on me to 
travel, and much more so probably would it be to endure the 



438 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



confusion of the city. I need the refreshment of a religious 
visit with my dear friends at Dr. Palmer's, but must forego the 
privilege, as I have for four long years. And now, O my Sav- 
iour, be pleased thyself to refresh me from thine own infinite 
fountains of light and love ! Give me, in this time of trial, as 
to Daniel in the lion's den, sustaining tokens of thy presence 
and favor, and to thee be glory forever ! Amen ! 

"Sunday, 11. — The holy Sabbath. Have felt humbled under 
the mighty hand of God. Life with me is almost past ; but a 
fragment remains. I have attempted to serve my God for 
many years, yet when I bear these services into the presence of 
God's law, and compare them with its stern and righteous 
requirements, I am confounded, and cry out, ' God be merciful 
to me a sinner ! ' O Lord, I am ashamed to lift up my face in 
thy presence ! I lie in the dust, I put my hand upon my 
mouth. I beseech thee, O God, to show me, this day, the malig- 
nity of sin and the fullness of the Saviour — his power and 
willingness to deliver me from sin ! Thou hast brought me to 
taste the sweetness of pardon and freedom in Christ. Convey, 
I beseech thee, to-day, while I wait before thee in prayer and 
in communing with thy word, a fresh witness of thy favor, 
which is life, and of thy loving-kindness, which is better than 
life. bless with thy salvation, thy full salvation ! 

" Thy blood shall over all prevail, 

And sanctify the unclean ; 
The grace that saves the soul from hell 

"Will save from present sin." 

" Schenectady, June 12, 1854. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Mrs. H., I believe, informed you of 
our effort to reach K York. Credit me all you possibly can, in 
good conscience, for the effort. I started with strong resolu- 
tions, and should have persevered, if only to die in your pleas- 
ant chamber, which indeed seemed probable; but Mrs. H. 
herself drew back, and I could not go without her. Now will 
you not vouch me a full acquittal from my promise as to June, 
and take this sincere effort as a token of my great desire to 
fulfill all righteousness in the relations of Christian friendship 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 



439 



and love ? While I sit here and think that we could not get 
to you, I glance at the future, when all who perseveringly loved 
our Lord Jesus Christ to the end shall be ' forever with the 
Lord,' and of course near each other. 

' "blissful hour, blest abode ! 
We shall be near and like our God.' 

Here we will rest. 

" Your last deeply interests me — us ; but amid the coming 
events we forget not ' Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city 
of God ! ' Jews and Papists will all disappear by ingrafting 
into Christ, or wrath from his judgment sentence. May the 
little Jew be a shining light ! My mind is comfortable. I rest 
in Him who says, ' Ye shall find rest.' I find it." 

" Tuesday, 13. — At Mr. Ford's. Yesterday was a day to be 
remembered with my poor soul. New discoveries continued 
through the day, and up to this hour. I have seen my past life 
in a new and affecting light : my unconverted life, when walk- 
ing in total darkness ; and my converted life, when partially 
enlightened. There are a few persons to whom I would wish 
to speak face to face in regard to these discoveries. J. F. is 
one with whom I would converse, and to whom I would say a 
few things in the fear of the Lord. My views of the past have 
been mercifully blended with such discoveries of a Saviour's 
dying love as I cannot attempt to describe. The condescension 
of Jesus ! A theme for immortal powers, for eternity. Now, 
O my adorable Saviour, who knowest my inmost heart, my 
sins and penitences and wants (as well as thy love and com- 
passion toward me) as none, not even myself, can know them, I 
resign all to thee for ever and ever, through thine own atoning 
sufferings and blood, and rest by faith on thy bleeding heart. 

1 Thy blood can make me white as snow.' 

Amid desert of endless death, desert like mine, 

1 'Tis wondrous grace 
Keeps off thy terrors from this humble bosom ; 
Though stained with sins and follies, yet serene, 
In penitential peace and smiling hope, 



440 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

Sprinkled and guarded with atoning "blood, 

Thy vital smiles, amid the desolation, 

Like heavenly sunbeams hid behind the clouds, 

Break out in happy moments. Holy light 

Softens and gilds the horrors of the storm, 

And richest cordials to the heart conveys 

A precious Friend on high ! This is my Eock 

Of firm support, my shield of sure defense 

Against infernal arrows. Eise, my soul, 

Put on thy courage. Here's the living spring 

Of joys divinely sweet, and always new,. 

A peaceful conscience and a smiling heaven.' 

"Monday, 19. — Yesterday was detained by feebleness from 
God's house. Spent most of the time in prayer, and reading 
one of Wesley's Sermons and Life of Haliburton. Had unusual 
dullness to contend with, but toward the close of the day the 
Captain of my salvation conquered for me, and gave a blessed 
season. 

4 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love I ' 

To-day began by reading the Bible, prayer, hymns, and then 
Haliburton. This is the most instructive biography I have yet 
met with. His experience is not only remarkable for its depth, 
variety, and thoroughness, but his pen describes, with most 
remarkable force and effect, what his heart had felt under a 
very severe and protracted struggle of conviction and repent- 
ance, and under the ecstacies, trials, perplexities, and conflicts 
of his Christian warfare. It is a wonderful book, and I am 
surprised that it has not earlier drawn and riveted my attention, 
and that the brief form in the Christian biography to which 
Mr. Wesley's preface is attached, is not known and read 
through all the Church. And now, O Lord, bless to my soul 
its affecting and instructive pages ! 

" Tuesday, July 4. — ' Why art thou cast down, O my soul ? ' 
God is the same at all times ; but how changeable is man ! 
How changeable this vile heart ! I record my obligations of 
eternal gratitude for what God has done for me ; but for some 
days past I have had a clouded mind, a fickle heart. Arise, O 
Lord, into thy rest ! Come into thy dwelling place. I wait 
on thee, my soul doth wait, and in thy word do I hope. 
Amen." 



HEAVENWARD BREEZES. 441 

u Schenectady, August 25, 1854. 

" To Rev. E. S. Grumley, — Yours received. I have given 
twenty-five thousand dollars to the Minnesota University ; 
but the name was all unknown to me, and was given it 
before they expected anything from me. I wish the name was 
changed. I will write again soon. I will give no institution 
anything for a name." 

" September 1. — Reading Baxter's Saints' Rest a few days has 
greatly refreshed me. It, and Wesley's incomparable sermons, 
(the Bible first,) and hymn book, are a precious Christian 
library. I believe I have seen more clearly into my own heart 
of late, more clearly too the preciousness of Christ. O what a 
vile heart ! O what a precious Saviour ! ' His name shall be 
called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.' I need 
yet further and fuller discoveries. I desire such a view of my 
sins always as, but for divine support and comfort, would destroy 
me; and then such views of Christ, that if my sins were ten 
thousand times more, yea, more than those of the whole world 
in all its generations, I could instantly by faith cast them all on 
Him who bore them all in his own body on the tree. Such 
views are needful for me. By these, endeared each day more 
clear and more affecting, must I grow in grace. Each step in 
the knowledge of Christ must be a step also in the knowledge 
of myself; just as increasing light, thrown on a painting, renders 
more distinct the background as well as the features and finish 
of the portrait. 

" Sunday, 3. — I am very feeble to-day, too ill to visit God's 
house; breathe with difficulty, feel as though I might easily 
expire in a few minutes ; yet, by my earnest request, Mrs. H. is 
at meeting, and I am glad she is there. If I should expire and 
reach heaven before she returns, how wonderful it would be. I 
do not dread the journey more than she does her return, nor 
am I alone. Christ is with me and in me. O how wonderful 
the mercy which, first loving, bled for me, then gave his Spirit 
to awaken, convert, and purify me, and now speaks pardon to 
the chief of sinners, and so comforts me with overflowing peace ! 
My soul cries out, ' None but Jesus, none but Jesus ! ' I am 
thine, O blessed Lamb, for ever ! " 



442 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER XX. 

TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 

The path of the just shineth more and more unto the perfect 
day. With the flight of years we trace God's suffering servant, 
getting nearer to the Master, and diffusing more of the divine 
image. The years upon which we now enter "were marked by 
some peculiar trials. But, by an overcoming faith, signal trials 
were but the harbingers of signal triumphs. " It is enough for 
the disciple that he be as his Master, and the servant as his 
Lord." " But every one that is perfect shall be as his Master." 
How truly does the sweet Psalmist in our Israel sing : 

" Thy every suff 'ring servant, Lord, 

Shall as his perfect Master he ; 
To all thy inward life restored, 

And outwardly conformed to thee : 
Out of thy grave the saints shall rise, 
And grasp, through death, the glorious prize." 

We think few have been more fully crucified with Christ, or 
risen more gloriously in the image of the heavenly, than the sub- 
ject of our memoir. He begins the year in diffusing heavenly 
benedictions with his lips and pen. To his friends in New 
York he writes, January 1, 1855, 'A happy New Year' to you 
both, and to your dear children. We are happy in Christ, the 
portion and dwelling-place of all the truly blest ; out of whom 
none can be happy, and in whom none can be miserable. We 
are happy in the Holy Ghost — the Comforter — in the Father of 
our Spirits, God over all, blessed forever. May the fresh and 
full anointings of the Spirit all the year long be on you and 
yours, like the plentiful, priestly unctions on Aaron ; nay, like 
the unctions of Him who is our great High Priest, in the days 
of his suffering for us, for it is your privilege to be partakers of 
the same anointing with your elder Brother, that like him you 
may conquer and triumph. 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



443 



" Yesterday is to be remembered by your unworthy brother, 
spent by him mostly alone m his library, newly fitted up, where 
he was permitted to dwell in the secret place of the Most High, 
and abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Men commun- 
ing with God, like angels do, like them, eat angels' food. Nay, 
more * as by fellowship with the Father he eats angels' food, 
so by fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ he has a dessert to 
his feast which angels cannot partake of, because they cannot 
have fellowship with Jesus as a Saviour. 

" This morning I resolve to be more than ever Christ's, and 
live and die in and for him. Pray that I may have grace for 
all toils and trials ; grace to live, and act, and suffer, accord- 
ing to the will of God." 

" Schenectady, February 1, 1855. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — I am reminded that some time to-day 
is to be devoted to you ; but as my health is poor, even for 
me, I fear I shall make little progress in writing. I have 
dwelt nearer to the Saviour for some weeks than previously, 
and think I may safely say my faith has been stronger. I have 
repeated, often with uncommon satisfaction, some portions of 
holy writ, as the fifty-third of Isaiah, and the closing chapters 
of the Evangelists. 

" The Saviour has visited me by his Spirit, in midnight hours, 
in rather an unusual manner. I have had more affecting views 
of Christ's painful sufferings than usual, and trust they will abide 
with me. I beg your prayers that my sloth may be forgiven, 
my zeal quickened, and that what is gained may not be lost. 

" How swift is the flight of time. A month of the year already 
fled ! It is a short journey home. While pondering your most 
generous offers, (precious to us as tokens of sincere and confiding 
friendship,) my eye turns toward the grave and toward heaven, 
and the spontaneous whispered exclamation is, 'What need 
of preparations to live, when we are just entering on death and 
eternity.' God will direct in all things. Mrs. H. will write on 
this topic. Please plead for us at our Father's throne. We do 
not, shall not forget you. Sooner our right hands shall forget 
their cunning. The God of Israel bless you : parents, children, 
kindred, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen." 



444 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Schenectady, March 1, 1855. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — I have just read in a religious 
paper, 1 The cross of christ is the key of paradise, the weak 
man's staff, the convert's convoy, the soul's health, the sanc- 
tuary of the humble, the dejection of the proud, the con- 
firmation of the faithful, the life of the just.' So I con- 
tinue to abide by the cross. The month has had its trials, 
struggles ; but the cross has comforted me. We have had sick- 
ness, its pains, fears, and feebleness ; but the cross has borne us 
through. The close of the month finds us watching over the 
sick bed of our lovely grandchild, who is now near two and a 
half years old, and by his manliness and affectionate behavior 
has too much taken us captive. Yesterday we feared he would 
die. To-day is some better. The Lord has been in our dwell- 
ing, especially the last week. Our dear daughter Virginia is 
much and fully blest. The doctor is more serious than usual. 
It has been a good week. Pray for us and praise with us. 

" We have read Dr. P.'s communication with great interest. 
We greatly desire to help the cause. But it is very clear that 
duty forbids it. You would be as sure as I am, if you knew all 
the circumstances. 

" I trust you are all well in ' body, soul, and spirit,' prosper- 
ing as always in all things. Let us still share your Christian 
sympathies and prayers. 

" 4 We are traveling home to God,' is much in my mind this 
morning." 

Schenectady, April 7, 1855. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P.— About the 20th of March I was 
taken seriously ill, and have been confined most of the time 
since to my bed, until within three or four days. This accounts 
for my silence about the first of the month. I am better, yet 
not as well as usual. I can talk but a few minutes at a time 
without serious inconvenience and damage. The power of 
speech may be utterly denied me ; but I acquiesce, and rejoice 
that I can hear, think, and walk a little. All the family is 
just now unwell ; Virginia quite sick. 

"The Lord bless us in our humble abode with his presence, 
power, and smile, ' the best of all.' 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



445 



" I trust you are winging your way upward, and still striving 
to bear others along. I doubt not you are. Letters from the 
West notice glorious revivals. What developments are open- 
ing and impending ! In the history and progress of events, 
students of the Bible must feel a lively interest. Crowding 
events must throw a flood of light on the prophecies, and are 
calculated to excite high expectation in the public (Christian) 
mind. May the blessed Master prepare us for the future, both 
of time and of eternity." 

However generously disposed, no one can possibly meet all 
the demands of the ever pleading public. It is well known 
that the larger and more frequent the gifts, the more embold- 
ened and imperative the claimants. Under such circumstances, 
however generous the disposition, some must be denied. 

It was in view of unkind remarks, made by some disappointed 
applicant, that the excellent Rev. David Brooks, President of 
the Board of Trustees, wrote to the Western Christian Advo- 
cate, May 10, 1855: "Having seen an article in the Western 
Christian Advocate, asking for information as to a donation of 
twenty-five thousand dollars, given by our beloved Bishop Ham- 
line, I wish to say, that we received a donation of twenty-five 
thousand dollars for our University about a year ago. Brother 
Hamline wrote to several brethren in Iowa and Minnesota — to 
me among them — stating that he proposed to appropriate fifty 
thousand dollars of his estate to colleges in the far West. 

" I happened to be the first to respond and to visit him. I 
found him at Sharon Springs, N. Y., where, though scarcely 
able to see company, he received me very kindly, examined 
the posture and prospects of our University, just then chartered, 
and, without a word of persuasion, gave us twenty-five thousand 
dollars, about one half of which is in hand, to be used in put- 
ting up college buildings. 

"In this transaction there seemed a singular coincidence. 
We had just got our University, and, without a syllable of cor- 
respondence with Brother Hamline, had given it his name. 
We had never notified him that we had even thought of a 
University in Minnesota, till I received his letter. If he desired 



446 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



the honor of giving a name to the college, that was secured to 
him without a donation, as the institution was already char- 
tered. But to the fact that I visited him before the Iowa breth- 
ren, who were a week later, I owe it, under Providence, that I 
obtained the first subscription, and not to the name of the 
college. 

" To encourage others I will remark, that as Bishop Hamline 
gives, the Lord repays him, even in kind, perhaps twofold. 
Though he pays no attention to business, and is often too sick 
to look over an account rendered by his agents, yet the best of 
men are in charge of his property, and his affairs wonderfully 
prosper. 

" Some conditions were annexed to his subscription, as, for 
instance, a portion of it should form a permanent endowment 
fund. Bishop Hamline insisted also, that no public notice 
should be given of his bequest, which is the reason that hints 
only have crept into the press. But now, as many are inquir- 
ing on the subject, and some erroneous notices have been before 
the public, I presume it is right and proper to give this expla- 
nation. Red Wing is in Minnesota, not in Wisconsin." 

About this time our beloved Bishop Hamline was called to 
pass through a fiery trial, which we can account for from the 
fact that God permits his chosen ones to be tried. Surely it is 
an honor to be chosen of God in any way by which the name 
of the High and Holy One may be glorified. Few, alas ! are 
disposed to covet the refining process, by which the gold may 
be brought forth in exceeding purity and brightness. It is the 
purest gold that will best bear the repeated stroke of the cun- 
ning workman ; it is the most refined that he works into the 
finest jewels. It is of such as submit to pass through the fire 
that the heavenly artisan says, " They shall be mine in that day 
when I make up my jewels." We are his workmanship. It 
was because Job was a man of unsullied religious and moral 
character, or, in other words, was a perfect man, and by the use 
of grace divinely bestowed exceeded all other men of his gen- 
eration, that the Lord permitted him to be thrown in the cru- 
cible. And thus it has been in all succeeding generations, that 
God has permitted his chosen ones to be brought forth as a 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



447 



spectacle to the gaze of fiendish men and wondering angels, 
and cast into the fiery furnace. 

It was to the glory of God that the three Hebrew children 
were seen walking unharmed amid the intense flame of the fur- 
nace, which the wicked king had caused to be " heated seven 
times hotter." Had they not been thrown into the very midst 
of the burning flame, the form of the Fourth might not have 
been so distinctly seen walking as one with them. And how 
did this exalt them above all their peers ? That God was glo- 
rified was too manifest to need comment. But not only was 
God glorified, but his servants were honored. Who could look 
upon either of those three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed- 
nego, in all their after life, without a reverence for them as 
men who had eminently glorified God, and in turn been emi- 
nently honored of God. And now God, even our God, permit- 
ted his eminently devoted servant to be cast into the fiery fur- 
nace, and how he glorified God in the fires will be seen by 
some of the succeeding pages. 

" Schenectady, June, 11, 1855 
"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — We have been much engaged for 
three weeks past in business and trials of an absorbing and 
exhausting nature ; and having passed through them, we gladly 
turn our thoughts to our friends, among whom you always 
occupy the first place. 

" A large company has been here from Ohio. Testimony has 
been taken in the case of Mr. and Mrs. Harlan. She has been 
expelled from the M. E. Church, and he awaits his trial before 
the Cincinnati Conference. As he professes to know nothing 
but what he gets from his wife, and several persons have writ- 
ten to us that the proof of her falsehoods and direct contra- 
dictions were overwhelming, even without Mrs. Hamline's testi- 
mony, we do not see how he can escape. 

" My strength seemed to come to me for a few days while 
this business was on hand, and we had a preacher sent to our 
circuit who was the very man to attend to the taking of the 
testimony. One of the best business men I have found in the 
whole Church, without whom I know not what we could have 
done. What a Providence ! He seemed to see right through 



448 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



the hypocrisy of Mr. and Mrs, H. with a glance, and he pre- 
sided and made up his records with an impartiality and a skill 
which astonished us all. Brother Finley said he had never 
seen a difficult job managed in so skillful and orderly a manner 
in fifty years. We hope to introduce you to this dear brother 
Isbell during the year. He is a gifted and valuable man, yet I 
knew scarcely anything of him till now. 

" We have heard little from you of late. But while the Lord 
is raising us up friends in unexpected quarters, we will not in- 
dulge fears that you forget us. Indeed, in our afflictions, if I 
should get ' so troubled that I cannot speak,' (or write,) you 
will let us hear your encouraging voices urging us to 4 trust and 
not be afraid.' We seem now to walk as through the valley 
and shadow of death ; but we desire greatly to be able to say, 
' I will fear no evil, for Thou art with us — thy rod and thy staff 
they comfort us ! ' Pray, beloved in Christ, that we may 1 come 
off conquerors, and more than conquerors, through Him that 
loved us ! ' I am resolved to be more for Christ than ever 
before ; and 1 though he slay me ' — even by my foes — ' I will 
trust in Him!'" 

u Schenectady, Sabbath, September 30, 1855. 
" It will be twenty-seven years on the 5th day of October, now 
at hand, since God, through Christ, pardoned all my sins, and 
gave me the ' glorious liberty of the sons of God.' In about six 
months, without asking or seeking it, I received license to ex- 
hort; and in about a year, license to preach. In October, 1830, 
I was called to Short Creek Circuit, as an assistant to the 
venerable Jacob Young, and in 1831 was again invited to take 
an active sphere of labor on Mount Vernon Circuit, with Rev. 
James M'Mahon, a most devout and lovely man, who, like my 
precious Brother Young, was a father to me. In 1832 I was 
received on trial in the Ohio Conference, and sent to Granville 
Circuit with that holy man, Rev. H. S. Fernandis, in charge, 
and a good young brother, Stephen Holland, as a third man, 
on a six weeks' circuit. Here God wrought wonders in a 
revival at Newark. In 1833 I went to Athens Circuit, and was 
again blessed with the companionship of Rev. Jacob Young as 
my colleague. And who ever had a better counselor or friend ? 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



449 



Here my health failed. In September, 1834, I was sent to 
Wesley Chapel at Cincinnati, and had for my colleague that 
able and faithful minister, Rev. Z. Connell. Long may he live 
and labor. In 1835 I was returned to Wesley Chapel with the 
lamented W. B. Christie, of precious memory ; but before the 
year closed was placed in Columbus by Bishop Morris, to fill 
the vacancy caused by the sickness of Rev. E. W. Sehon. In 
September, 1836, I was ordained elder by Bishop Soule, and 
elected assistant editor in place of the worthy Rev. Wm. Phil- 
lips, deceased, where I remained till 1840. In 1840 I com- 
menced the Ladies' Repository, and continued it till 1844, when 
I was ordained superintendent, which office I lesigned in 1852. 
I have now been almost four years at rest, and three years on 
the superannuated list of the Ohio Conference. This morning, 
under trials of no ordinary kind, (for the Cincinnati Conference 
is in session, and my reputation seems suspended on the result 
of L. D. Harlan's trial before that judicatory,) I have a deep 
sense of unworthiness before God — yea, such as my pen cannot 
describe. But I must add, I have a wonderful sense also of the 
presence and smile of God. No tongue can describe how Jesus 
blesses me to-day. And, what I esteem a very gracious act on 
God's part, since the Cincinnati Conference commenced on last 
Wednesday morning, I have had the most unexpected comfort 
and peace of soul, not from any inward assurance that my 
character will be spared, but in a sweet submission of all to 
God. 

" And now, O my God, I desire this day, by thy Holy Spirit 
moving me thereto and enabling me, to make a new dedication 
of myself to thee, and enter anew into covenant with thee. 
And I do yield myself afresh up to thee, O God, Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost, as a ' living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto 
God, through Jesus Christ my Lord,' for ever and ever to be 
thine, and thine alone. And herein I record this my unworthy 
but sincere purpose to fear, love, honor, serve, and praise thee, 
living in strict obedience to thy pure law, and in humble sub- 
jection and cheerful submission to thy holy will and providence 
in all things. Nor do I (so I trust and purpose) propose to 
serve and submit to thee, blessed God, on condition that I am 



450 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



saved out of the hand of my cruel foes, (whom I pray thee to 
bless and bring into thy kingdom;) but, whatever thy wisdom 
shall permit to come upon me, and, what is infinitely more 
severe, on my wife, my children, and above all, on the Church 
on my account, I pray thee for grace to keep this covenant, even 
passing through that valley of the shadow of death which such 
affliction must open before me. O Lord, even then, above all 
times, help thou me, that I may not only cry on the Mount of 
Transfiguration ' It is good for me to be here,' but also in the 
Gethsemane of sorrow and in the judgment hall of offense, 
buffeted and spit upon, or bleeding with the agony at every 
pore, I may be able to cry, ' Though I walk through the valley 
of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with 
me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.' So, O Lord, even 
now 'thou art with me.' Amen and Amen. Eleven o'clock 
A. M." 

Sabbath evening, October 14, 1855, (Rotterdam, N. Y.) 

" Since I made the foregoing dedication of my all to God, I 
have been kept in great peace. My mind has been much exer- 
cised daily on the subject of faith, in connection with perfect 
love. I apprehend that my enjoyment and profession of that 
great blessing have been without that distinct faith which 
gives stability and assurance. This has led me to cry to God 
for some days for a specific faith in regard to it. I have not 
cried in vain. To-day, about one o'clock P. M., I was enabled 
to apply the promise in Ezekiel, ' I will sprinkle clean water 
upon you, and from all your filthiness and from all your idols 
will I cleanse you.' Then other promises were applied in a very 
satisfactory manner. And, though without any remarkable de- 
gree of emotion or joy, I could say with delightful assurance, 
'Thou dost' now 'sprinkle me,' etc., and I am 'clean.' I went 
into the room where Mrs. Hamline was, and stated to her that I 
was cleansed, then in the class at church made the same con- 
fession with great comfort and an assured heart. My faith has 
grown stronger up to this hour, eight o'clock P. M. 

"I now perceive that I have enjoyed perfect love much of 
the time since 1842; that I have depended too much on emo- 
tions; that I have not adverted to faith as distinctly as I ought; 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



451 



that I had more faith than I supposed ; that I needed, by some 
divine discipline of soul, to be taught more clearly the import- 
ance of faith in connection with this great blessing, and that 
some loss of comfort and strength has been a method of instruc- 
tion in the great mystery of faith. But the best of all is, I do 
now reckon myself to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto 
God. Yes, it is gloriously true. 'My hallowing Lord hath 
wrought a perfect cure.' Amen." 

" Schenectady, October 1, 1855. 
" To Rev. J. M. Leavitt, — Yours was like cold water to the 
thirsty soul. How fully and delightfully did its song of praise 
carry my soul along with it. How fully, while I gratefully 
recognize you as God's chosen instrument, with my dear Brother 
Brooks, did I adore the Author of the deliverance, and see 
plainly that God held you as the star in his right hand, while 
light was shed over that ministerial assembly. How deep and 
how quick the sympathy, through the spirit, which almost 
made my heart one with yours, and with theirs who decided 
that question, the day after the adorable Saviour gave me the 
victory in my own heart. O that inward victory ! How I still 
feel it like a glowing flame, all through and through my being. 
This morning my pen trembles with the joyous, sin-consuming 
emotions of my own unworthy heart. Yes, the victory without 
and the victory within are wrought by the same almighty, all- 
glorious hand. Glory be to God on high; on earth peace, 
unutterable peace, in my own heart, through all the chambers 
of my soul ! 

" The same hand will save us still. He that hath begun a 
good work will carry it on until the day of Christ. The Lord 
reward you, my dear brother, a thousand-fold for the generous 
interest he has enabled you so successfully to take in behalf of 
the Church, the sainted dead, and the grateful living." 

" Schenectady, October 18, 1855. 
"To Rev. J. Young, — I especially thank you for your last 
letter, and all your Christian kindness to me. The Lord reward 
and bless you, and add grace and comfort to your declining 
years. I thought I would defer writing until alter the Cincin- 



452 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



nati Conference, and give myself unto prayer. During the ses- 
sion of that conference, and from the Wednesday morning of 
its commencement, I was visited by the Holy Spirit in a most 
remarkable manner, and ever since I have enjoyed such mani- 
festations of the divine goodness, that the inward blessings seem 
far greater than the outward deliverances, great as these last 
were. O my dear brother, like Jacob delivered out of the 
hand of Esau, I have in my wrestlings received what I was not 
specially looking for, a wonderful and glorious work of God 
in my own poor heart. I have never enjoyed such peace and 
fullness of joy as I now do. I have, as you say, a clear witness 
that I am cleansed from all sin. The heavenly Master is pre- 
paring me to ' enter into the joy of my Lord.' His word has 
such a sweetness in it as I cannot describe. O how I exult in 
the thought of meeting you in heaven, and there, in the full 
light of eternity, with expanded powers and spotless affections, 
rehearsing the marvelous works of God, and uttering the praises 
of the Crucified One, as we bow before the throne, and gaze at 
Him who 'was slain and has redeemed us unto God by his 
blood ! ' I am, with you, now learning the heavenly strain. So 
sweet is it to my poor unworthy soul, and so used to it do I 
become as I daily and almost hourly hear my dear wife pour 
forth the praises of the Lamb, that it seems to me it will be 
perfectly natural for me, even as breathing now is, to cry with 
the great company before the throne, 'Unto Him who hath 
loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and 
hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to 
him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. 

" And how short the time is ! How soon will the few re- 
maining sands of life run out, and the vail be lifted, and ' He 
whom not having seen we loved,' be revealed in all his infinite 
perfection and glory. In the language of my beloved Leavitt, 
in a letter just received, 4 How low we shall bow in prostration 
before the Lamb, how high will our exulting voices be raised 
in his praise ! ' 

" There, O there, we will recount his deliverances in strains 
better suited to the glorious theme, in songs, and with harps 
given to us by Him who will inspire our raptures, and teach us 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



453 



how to convert every transport of the heart into a note worthy 
of the swelling anthem of the redeemed I 

1 Here's my heart and here's ray hand, 
To meet you in that heavenly land.' 

"Amid the depressions of the last year, I have sometimes 
feared (as the worst of all my fears) that I should fail. But 
God has so gloriously renewed my faith and assurance, and has 
enabled me to take so full a shelter in the wounds of Jesus, 
that my fears are gone. Praise God with me and for me, my 
precious brother in Christ. Let us exalt his name together. 
Amen and Amen." 

u Schenectady, October 15, 1855. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — From the commencement of the 
Cincinnati Conference, where Mr. Harlan was on trial and my 
own interests were so deeply involved, I was wonderfully visited 
by the Holy Spirit. On Thursday, October 4, (which proved 
to be the day of his expulsion,) this visitation became (it seemed 
to me) almost miraculous. For about five hours I scarcely 
changed my position ten minutes, (which at another time I 
could not endure without great difficulty for an hour,) and yet 
I was no more weary than though I had been reclining in per- 
fect health on a bed of down. This memorable day of days 
must not be forgotten. Finally the news came, 'expulsion' by 
a unanimous vote. Since then I have continued in prayer and 
praise, until yesterday (Sabbath) at one o'clock P. M., when a 
clear witness of perfect love was bestowed upon me as I knelt 
in prayer. I have gained more than I ever lost. 

" And now, dear friends, you have prayed much, and let me 
call upon you to praise much. My dear wife and I are enjoy- 
ing the jubilee of release. The outward deliverance is not to 
compare with the inward, though we praise God for it. ' We 
have washed our robes in the blood of the Lamb.' It is all 
glory ! 

" I write this for your eye, because you are among the first 
entitled to know my own state." 

" Rotterdam, N. Y., Tuesday, October 23. — Most of the time 
since the last date I have been kept in perfect peace. True, 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Satan has made some furious assaults, and at times seemed 
about to overwhelm me. He mostly assails my faith. I take 
it as proof that he knows wherein my strength lies. Faith 
gone, Christ is gone, and of course all is gone, for Christ is all. 
Yesterday was a trying day, to-day less so, yet not without its 
trials; but I cast myself on thee, O thou adorable Sayiour! 
Thou art the ' Captain of my salvation.' 

4 "Weaker than a bruised reed, 
Help I every moment need.' 

And thou hast said, ' I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.' 
I take thee at thy word, and cast my soul on thee for ever. 

" Saturday, November 10. — This day no peculiar joy sustains 
me, and for some days I have been living by faith ; but I doubt 
not the Sun of Righteousness will shine upon my path and 
enlighten it as I pass along. ' I will trust and not be afraid.' 
The Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song, he also is 
become my salvation. With joy I shall 4 draw water out of the 
wells of salvation.' A poor drunkard has died the last week 
near by. Myself and dear wife have labored to teach him, 
warn him, and guide him to Christ. I have at times had an 
encouraging spirit of prayer for him. He professed at first to 
be praying for the mercy of God, and, as he said, trusting in 
it ; but I found he had no knowledge of Christ as a Saviour, and 
I told him God could show no mercy to sinners but through 
Him whose name was the only one among men whereby we can 
be saved. He seemed after this to depend on Christ. There 
is some hope, much fear. 

" Sunday, 18. — Detained from the sanctuary. I have read 
1 Faith's Plea,' Life of William Tennant, part of Father Reeves, 
and the Bible and hymn book, with comfort and edification. 
Have had communion with God. I still trust. I lean on the 
arm of Omnipotence. I consecrate all, and dare believe he 
accepts all, for he says, ' I will receive you.' I hope to live in 
the hourly expectation of death, and in an instant preparation 
for it. The last week Rev. Messrs. Charles Elliott, D. D., and 
L. Swormstedt, and Adam Poe paid us a visit. I was thankful 
to see them. I felt a sense of solitude when they left us ; but 



1 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



455 



let me make God my all. His servants are dear to me, but who 
is like Jesus ! My dear wife, who has so long cared for me, 
and with such unutterable love and unwearied watchfulness, is 
feeble. O Lord, preserve her life, if it please thee, until I go 
hence ! but I give up her and my children as well as myself to 
thee. Sanctity afflictions to us all, for Christ's sake ! Amen ! " 

" Schenectady, November 3, 1855. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Jesus is precious. He will care for 
his work and his co-workers. The Lord knoweth them that 
are his. He will keep that which we have committed unto 
him. If the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the Lord 
will lift up a standard. The wrath of man shall praise him, 
the remainder of wrath he will restrain. He will teach. our 
hands to war and our fingers to fight, and cover our heads in 
the day of battle. We will trust and not be afraid." 

" Sunday , December 2. — I am struggling to hang on Jesus by 
simple faith. I visited the Sabbath-school in the morning, and 
at the request of the superintendent spoke feebly some twenty 
minutes to the children. I had not a very comfortable season, 
but lifting up my heart in prayer for help, I believe God an- 
swered and helped me or I could not have spoken to them, I 
was so oppressed. O Lord, wilt thou not revive me again? 
1 Thou who hast showed me great and sore troubles wilt lift 
me up again from the gates of death.' 

"Rotterdam, Thursday, 6. — For two days my soul has 
triumphed in the Lord. This morning I was especially visited 
with the Holy Spirit, and through the day the love of God has 
been a fire in my soul. Jesus is precious, unutterably precious. 
O what can he not do for poor dying souls ! for souls that 
believe ! Never before did I see such a beauty in faith. It is 
the mode prescribed by Infinite Wisdom for the reception by 
sinners of all the blessings of salvation, and, if Infinite Wisdom 
prescribed it, there must be ample reasons for the prescription ; 
and as religious influence gains power over the heart and 
understanding, of course that method of salvation which God 
has prescribed will, in all its parts, be more and more admired 



456 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



by the soul thus saved. Faith works by love, and purifies the 
heart. And although they who exercise it have no merit on its 
account, (because even faith is wrought in them by the Holy 
Spirit,) yet it is a grace most comely in the eye of God, and 
one that he commends in the strongest terms. No sin is so 
severely condemned as unbelief, no Christian virtue so eulogized 
as faith. That makes God a liar, this honors him above 
measure. Of this it is said, ' He that believeth shall be saved,' 
of that, 4 He that believeth not shall be damned ;' but how little is 
it considered that unbelief is so great a sin that it hinders the 
pardon of all other sins ; that all prayers and cries for mercy 
are utterly vain unless faith supplants unbelief in the soul. 
How many are striving to please God and reach heaven by 
various resolutions and efforts of amendment, while unbelief 
holds possession of the heart, and the struggling soul is every 
moment sinking lower imder its influence. 

" Tuesday, January 1, 1856. — Comfortable morning. Christ is 
precious. Company interrupts a little. I spent the time from 
ten A. M. to three P. M. at E. Ford's, and dined. Had a com- 
fortable day. I covenant afresh with Jesus. Amen. 

"Wednesday, 2. — Company — Brother Isbell and daughter. 
Good prayer-meeting at night. O Jesus, thou art precious ! 
Come near to my poor soul ; dwell in me the hope of glory ; 
reign in me for evermore ; set me as a seal upon thy heart. 
Glory be unto thee, O Lord most high ! 

" Saturday, 5. — Arose this morning dull, but in private 
prayer about nine A. M. the clouds fled. A glorious day broke 
in upon my souL O how sweet and precious this heavenly 
light ! Lord, abide now with me for ever. Increase my faith, 
I pray thee, a hundred-fold. 

" Sunday, 6. — How glorious this sunlight of the Redeemer's 
face, the heaven of his smile ! Faith springs up within me 
and takes, in rich fruition, all the blessings of the Gospel. 

1 Not all the "blessings of a feast 
Can please my soul so well.' 

" Tuesday, 8. — A comfortable morning. Jesus is precious. 
Faith conquers. 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



457 



1 How sweet the name of Jesus sounds 
In a believer's ear.' 

" Thursday, 10. — I fly to Jesus as my only trust. I will not 
complain, for my blessings are more than my afflictions. 

1 My Saviour doth not yet appear, 
He hides the brightness of his face.' 

I will not let him go. He gave himself to me, almost thirty 
years ago, in a glorious manner. He is my God, and he 
saves me. 

"Sunday, 13. — Eleven o'clock A. M. More comfortable in 
mind than usual. Head Wesley's Sermons, Guide to Holiness, 
and the Bible. Had a season of prayer with my dear Mrs. H. 
It was good to call on the name of the Lord." 

" Schenectady, January 30, 1856. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — If Jesus walk with us on the storm- 
iest seas we need not sink. Like Peter, he bids me come to 
him on angry waves, and though the first impulse was dismay, 
I was caught up as it were from the ' beginning to sink ' by his 
almighty arm, and now I am calmly and delightfully walking 
on the troubled waters close to his bleeding side, and never 
did conquering prince or monarch in his triumphant chariot, 
amid applauding millions, enjoy what I do. I invite you not 
to mourn and lament over me, but to praise, rejoice, and give 
thanks. Glory be to God on high ! I am weary or I would 
dwell on the theme. Farewell." 

" January 21. 

" To Rev. L. Swormstedt, — I am not quite so well. Vertigo 
has come back on me, so that sometimes I cannot walk across 
the room without help. Jesus is precious. O what should we 
do without him ! To most persons it would seem strange 
indeed, but I never enjoyed more of his presence or felt more 
contented than now. I have 'joy unspeakable, and full of 
glory.' I sometimes think I shall soon go over Jordan, because 
the Lord blesses me with such peace and such baptisms of the 
Holy Ghost. Glory to God in the highest! How thankful 
should I be for these things ! If left now to bear my trials 

20 



458 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE. 



without God's help, how could I live ? But I am blessed, O 
how blessed ! 

" Love to Brothers Poe and Elliott. O how sweet your visit 
was to me ! Thank you all a thousand times." 

"Sunday, February 3. — Most of the time since this year 
commenced I have had peace and quietness and assurance, 
but occasionally great conflicts and temptations. About three 
weeks ago I learned that an abusive pamphlet was issued against 
me by L. D. Harlan and his wife. . . . My trial was very sore, but, 
after the first shock, I quieted myself as a weaned child. Then 
came the pamphlet, as full of lies as Satan himself, by the agency 
of his well trained children, could fill it, both in regard to my- 
self and my beloved, pure-hearted, innocent wife, who has been 
as an angel of God to me in all my pilgrimage for twenty years, 
a woman who, for sincerity, purity, and love of truth, has no 
superior on earth, as I believe ; one whose conscience is tender 
as the apple of an eye, and who had tolerated and treated 
kindly this base-accusing woman when she was most disagree- 
able to her in long visits to our house, and in a lengthened 
correspondence, merely to do her good, and this too, when we 
both knew her to be in the constant habit of violating truth 
more grossly and uniformly than any person whom we ever 
knew; yet, as we supposed she was trying to seek salvation, and 
that this strange looseness of speech was a sort of madness with 
her, we bore with her, and hoped grace would cure it, especially 
as she herself seemed ready to acknowledge her fault, and even 
referred to her facility at lying in her own letters to us. Well 
are we repaid ! But some good mixes with the evil. I read 
the whole pamphlet without one emotion of anger or even 
unkindness toward its authors. Never in my unworthy ex- 
perience have I had so comforting a test of a gracious work in 
my poor heart. My temper is naturally hasty, and I am sure 
that without the Holy Spirit I could not have read this base 
production without unspeakable rage and the most revengeful 
purposes ; yet as I passed through it page after page, so power- 
fully and gloriously did the Spirit comfort and strengthen me, 
that it had no more effect to irritate, or even disturb me than 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



459 



though I had been listening to a sweet discourse in the sanc- 
tuary, or joining in holy songs of praise. O God, I will praise 
thee ! The work within me is thine. Thou hast gotten me 
this glorious victory. Amen." 

" Schenectady, September 20, 1856. 
" To Rev. Professor Leavitt, — Yours was duly received ; . 
but my laboring pen is slow to answer it. Broken machinery 
will not work. I am thankful that I can write a little. As to 
study, you must feed the soul with knowledge ; and if you do 
not allow either ambition or mere intellectual taste to control 
your devotion to literature so as to cool your desires after God, 
your keen relish for prayer and praise, you need not fear. The 
Spirit will always give some signal of alarm when we are in 
danger. All we need is to keep a look out for the token. He 
does not always give a very bold signal, startling the soul, and 
arresting careless observation, which renders it the more neces- 
sary that we ' watch.' As Christians, we should not rest with- 
out making an observable progress in faith, love, hope, peace, 
joy, zeal for good and the salvation of souls, and, in a word, 
in all those branches of heavenly-mindedness which belong to 
redeemed sinners in a world like this. As ministers, we must 
have our eye on our great commission, and the heavenly tem- 
pers which belong to and befit it. We ought to have more 
faith than Abraham, more love and religious heroism than 
Daniel, more close walking with God than Enoch, more 
meekness than Moses, and more patience tl&n Job ; for our 
dispensation is far richer than theirs in all the means and 
motives of piety, while our hearts are no more corrupt 
than theirs, for these means and motives to operate upon 
and subdue. 

u Now, dear brother, press on in literary pursuits as earnestly 
as you please, only taking care to be ready to offer up your son 
whom you love, as Abraham did, to keep your head on Christ's 
bosom as John did, to be ready both to be bound and die at 
Jerusalem for Christ's sake as Paul was, and, if I may depart 
from Scripture examples, feel, as Olin said, ' I can conceive of no 
degree of physical suffering which I would not endure for the 
privilege of preaching Christ crucified.' " 



460 LIFE OF BISHOP HA3ILIXE. 



u Schenectady, October 4, 1858. 

" To Dk. axd >Iks. P., — The Lord is making up ' his jew- 
els. 1 Ought we not, amid the sadness of our family depriva- 
tions, to rejoice to furnish from our homes the material of these 
treasures. Glory be to God ! that one so dear to you is placed 
as a jewel in the Redeemer's crown. You cannot lose her now. 
"When eternity shall grow old — if I may indulge hyberbole — 
she will shine with inconceivable luster, a brilliant of heaven. 
I know that whenever tears flow to her sweet memory, the un- 
derlying joy of your hearts is full. : Joy unspeakable and full 
of glory ! ' is the under-current of your mourning. Mrs. Ham- 
line would send you, from her pen, her heartfelt sympathies, 
but that she has not a moment to spare. 

B I feel a little better, under the bracing power of these bright 
October days, or I could not write this long letter. 

" ' Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift ! ' Thanks 
to his name for blessings upon your labors in Canada. May 
you wax stronger and stronger, more and more abundant in 
every good work through Jesus Christ our Lord ! " 

" Schenectady, October 7, 1856. 
" To !5JjRS. Map.y 3Iaphet, [his spiritual mother], — No com- 
munication from friends on earth could be more acceptable 
and gratifying than one from your hand. And this, just re- 
ceived, came so near my spiritual birthday, that its associations 
render it unusually affecting. I cannot write what I feel on the 
occasion ; but I bless God that feeling rises above the power of 
expression. Once more, for the fourth or fifth time, the 5th of 
October came on the holy Sabbath, as it did in 1828, when I 
spent the evening at Father "Whipple's, prostrate, and crying 
for mercy. That was a time, a scene, never to be forgotten. 
He passed by and said unto me, 1 Live.' 

' happy day that fixed my choice 
On thee, my Saviour and my God ! ' 

" I received a birthday gift on the holy Sabbath — last Sab- 
bath — a baptism from on high. And I have felt, since, that 
with more emphasis than usual I can say, 

4 Take my poor heart, and let it be 
Forever closed to all but Thee ! ' 



TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS. 



461 



Were I able I would dwell on this glorious theme, for I feel 
as though I could not weary of it. I will say, ' The Lord of 
hosts is with me,' and I think a crown of life is before me." 

" Schenectady, November 10, 1856. 

" To Rev. B. Isbell, — I have had a series of bad turns, and 
a terrible cold, delaying my answer until your second came to- 
day. Be assured my heart wrote when my pen was idle. . . . 
It would be a relief if Mrs. B. could be prepared to die, in 
the Wesleyan sense of preparation. But her Calvinism, of 
the old 1812 style, hangs to her, and her hope is that she was 
converted about that time. . . . We trust that your hopes of a 
good revival will be realized. This, after all, is the hope of the 
Church — the only hope of the world. A successful election in 
favor of sound morals is most desirable, and I have both desired 
and prayed for it. But God is wise, good, mighty, and what 
he permits or works must be best on the whole. He may per- 
mit slavery to work out its dire effects. We deserve it as a na- 
tion, though hundreds of thousands are clear, and he will cover 
them in the shadow of his wing until the calamity be overpast. 

" There are signs, I think, that the slaveholders are to eat 
the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. 
Thirty years ago scarcely a man in the South justified, but 
simply excused, slavery. Now nobody there excuses but justi- 
fies it — and 4 tempora ! mores ! ' — by the Bible, perverted to 
that base end. 1 It is time for thee, Lord, to work ; for men 
make void thy law ! ' We rejoice in the brilliant success of E. 
aj*d A. May the Father's choicest blessing rest upon them, and 
y^u all, forever ! Amen ! " 

" Tuesday, December 2, 1856. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — We greet you in Christ's name, who 
bore our griefs and carried our sorrows ; who was wounded for 
our transgressions and was bruised for our iniquities; who 
bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the trans- 
gressors ; who was oppressed and was afflicted, yet opened 
not his mouth ; who now sees in us, and multitudes around us, 
the travail of his soul, and is satisfied. Unto Him who hath 
loved us and washed us from our sins in his blood be glory 
for ever and ever! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!" 



462 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER XXL 

REMOVAL TO MOUNT PLEASANT — DECLINING HEALTH. 

During the fall and winter of 1856 a correspondence had been 
commenced, to induce Bishop Haniline to return to Mount 
Pleasant, Iowa, a latitude nearly as far north, and a climate, it 
was believed, quite as healthful as that in which he now lived. 
His dear friend, Dr. Charles Elliott, had decided to make his 
residence there, and, considering all the circumstances, he came 
to the conclusion that it might be best for his son's family, 
and the order of Providence, that he should make the effort 
to remove. He was the more confirmed in this belief from 
the fact that his health was better than it had been for several 
years. 

On his way to Mount Pleasant he spent a few days in Chic- 
ago, most hospitably entertained in the family of O. Lunt, Esq., 
to whose kindness he ever felt himself deeply indebted. 
Here he was assisted by his kind friends, D. Brush, Esq., of 
Zanesville, Ohio, and Hon. G. Goodrich, of Chicago, (who had 
generously taken charge of his temporal interests, leaving him 
free to be a man of one work,) in looking over his worldly 
affairs, in attending to which he had not, from the time of his 
entering the Ohio Conference, spent as much as one day in a 
year. These gentlemen had made his purchases, collected all 
dues, and settled all claims ; and so fully did he intrust his 
interests to them that he seldom looked over their accounts 
with any particularity, assured of their integrity, and trusting 
the God whom he and they served to be their guide. He 
attributed his worldly prosperity to the Divine approval in his 
course in thus avoiding worldly care. 

Before reaching Mount Pleasant his strength failed, and he 
was attacked with his old faintness; but remedies adminis- 
tered relieved him, and the journey was accomplished late in 



DECLINING HEALTH. 463 

April, 1857. He took board for a few weeks in the kind family 
of Dr. Berry, then President of the Iowa Wesleyan University, 
having sweet Christian fellowship with this man of God, who 
has since gone to his eternal rest. 

The bishop having reached Mount Pleasant, the question of 
remaining was settled by the fact that, whether or not de- 
sirable, he was not able to remove to any distance. For sev- 
eral years after his settlement in Mount Pleasant he attended 
the sanctuary regularly once on Sabbath, though several times 
so paralyzed by the way as scarcely able to reach his home. He 
sat in his rocking chair near the door of the church, as he 
could not endure the more confined atmosphere near the 
pulpit. 

He requested the preacher in charge of the station to form 
a mixed class in his house, and subsequently built a room for 
its accommodation, and had it regularly dedicated to divine 
service. This class on Sabbath, and a female prayer-meeting 
on Thursday, were regularly kept up till his death. The for- 
mer he attended when able to sit in an ante-room at the door, 
after speaking of his own joyful experiences in the divine 
life, and fervently exhorting the members to seek all the full- 
ness of God ; and when not able to sit during the meeting, he 
would come at its close and speak a few words of experience 
and encouragement to the class. When able to listen to preach- 
ing he occasionally heard a sermon in his class-room, and not 
unfrequently the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was admin- 
istered there at his request. 

" January 5, 1857. 
" To Db. and Mrs. P., — ' The Lord God is a sun and shield. 
He will give grace and glory.' So he deals with us, and some- 
times permits the out-beaming light of the sun to become more 
intense for the special encouragement of his sanctified ones. 
This more fully impresses the force of the promise so far as the 
'glory' is involved in it; for such seasons reveal some measure 
of that glory as the child of his grace can bear its revelation. 

* would lie more of heaven bestow ! ' 

But, blessed be his name, he leaves not himself without a wit- 



464 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

ness in our poor hearts. ( Glory be to the Father, and to the 
Son, and to the Holy Ghost ! ' " 

" May, 1857. 

" To Mrs. V. M. Hamline, — I thank you, my dear child, for 
your letter received this morning, and that you are leaning on 
that Almighty arm for support. It never will fail you. Strive 
every hour to get a surer faith, and then you will have a more 
secure and sweeter rest on that unfailing arm. O how delight- 
ful if you and Leo can only get and remain safely reposed 
there, where the shade, the defense, the shelter, the refresh- 
ment are unfailing, perpetual, and eternal ! I trust you throw 
the silken cords of love around Leo every hour, and by these 
gentle attractions (with which we men love to be led) draw 
him to the chamber of devotion and the family altar, to the 
class-room and to Christ. . . . 

" I am sorry for the disappointment of your dear papa, but I 
trust all will work for good. If he finally succeeds he will 
probably more than make up all his losses. At any rate we 
may be happy without riches, and very miserable with them. 
Christ alone, possessed and enjoyed, can satisfy immortal souls. 
May my dear children remember this." 

The following extracts are from letters of Bishop H. to his 
little grandsons : 

" Mount Pleasant, June, 1857. 
" Dear Leo and Johnnie, — I hope you are well, and good 
boys, saying your prayers, and trying hard to get converted. If 
you can only get converted you will be happy. Pray much, and 
ask pa and ma to pray for you, that God will give you a new 
heart for Christ's sake. Remember Jesus died for sinners, and 
we are all sinners. May you soon get new hearts and be 
happy." 

" Mount Pleasant, June, 1857. 

" Dear Leo and Johnnie, — It's beautiful here, but you will 
see it soon, I hope. 

" Did you hear how three hundred and fifty were killed in 
the cars in Canada ? Awful ! I thought, if Leo and Johnnie 
or papa or mamma were killed coming out here, would they all 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



465 



go to heaven ; for you know that none but they who have got 
new hearts can go to heaven, and none can have new hearts if 
they tell lies and deceive their ma or pa, or don't love their 
parents and little brothers and pray a great deal and be good. 
O, I hope you will be good, so that if the cars run off and kill 
you, or you get the croup or fever and die, we shall know you 
are gone to heaven." 

" June, 1857. 

" Dear Leo, — Hope you pray a great deal nowadays. Pray 
that the Lord will make you all good and prepare us all for 
heaven. Little children often die. Your Aunt Price died at 
two and a half years old, your Aunt Clarissa when one day old. 
Only think of that ! Grandma and I would feel so bad if any 
of you should die before we see you; yet if we knew you 
prayed, and was converted, and was ready to die, how much 
better we should feel about it. 

! * Kiss little Johnnie for me, and be good and try to make 
him good. 

" We learn you are sick, and feel very bad about it ; but you 
must pray the more, and we hope our heavenly Father will 
restore you and bring you safely to us for Christ's sake." 

" July 22, 1857. 

" Dear Leo and JommiE, — I want you to keep all my let- 
ters, so that, when I am dead and buried, you two boys, when 
you are old enough, can look them over, and Leo read them to 
Johnnie and say, ' These are our dear grandpa's letters, written 
to us when we were very little boys, and when pa and ma had 
to read them to us.' 

" A good farm is to be sold here by the sheriff for cash, but 
nobody here has as much cash as it is worth. O, Leo, if we 
had enough money ! but no, religion is better than money, for it 
gets a crown in heaven, and not dirt on earth. We can get 
religion, Leo, if we can't get money ; but we must pray a great 
deal for it. I hope you do pray and teach Johnnie to pray. 
You must teach Johnnie to be good and to be religious. Did 
you ever read about Cain that killed his brother ? Some kill 
their little brothers' souls, instead of their bodies, by setting 



466 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



them a bad example, and leading them to sin. O how dread- 
ful if you should kill Johnnie's soul, and be worse than Cain ! 

" Give my love to your pa and ma, and tell them to pray 
for us." 

" Mount Pleasant, August 11, 1857. 

"Dear Leo and Johnnie, — "We have had wonderful rains 
for a week. Everything looks green and so beautiful. Just so 
when people pray, and God sends the rains and dews of the 
Holy Spirit upon their hearts ; then sweet fruits spring up in 
the soul, such as truth and love and meekness and obedience 
to parents, and all that. O, Leo, I want you and Johnnie to 
pray and get new hearts, and be perfect Christians and do good 
and go to heaven ! Will you, dear Leo ? and teach Johnnie 
to pray and be good. 

a Tell papa and mamma I had a faint turn and a very bad 
pulse last night, and feel faint to-day. I can't write any more. 
Good-by. Love to all." 

" Sunday, January 10, 1858. — I felt dull at devotion when I 
knelt down in family worship, and thought I should have a 
stupid Sabbath. How terrible ! but as in prayer I mentioned 
the blood of Christ joy sprang up." 

Mrs. H. says : "All that day he dwelt most sweetly, affectingly, 
and instructively on the precious blood of Christ, the great 
atonement, its length and breadth and freeness. All the 
week his faith seemed to be increasing. Thursday afternoon 
our female prayer-meeting, which was held in a room adjoin- 
ing his, was greatly blessed to his soul. At night, when en- 
gaged in family prayer, he became suddenly ill, and did not 
know but he was dying. When a little relieved he said, 
' How real ! What a verity ! [referring to the presence of 
Christ.] Peace as a river, an ocean. What a rush of power ! 
of glory ! If it would not be selfish I would pray, 

" would he more of heaven bestow, 
And let the vessel break ! " 

But it would be wrong for such a sinner as I to pray to be taken 
away from a world of conflicts. You may urge people to 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



467 



believe as much as you will. I can scarcely see the word faith 
anywhere without emotion. I never before saw so fully the 
power and efficacy of faith.' " 

u Mount Pleasant, Iowa, September 17, 1857. 
"To Rev. R. Scott, — Being greatly desirous of rendering 
more aid to your cause in Ireland than I can do at present, I 
propose to pledge to it one thousand dollars, to be paid, if not 
earlier, by my executors after my decease. Having subscribed 
fifty thousand dollars to institutions of learning, more than 
thirty thousand of which remain unpaid, and will absorb all 
my spare income for four years to come, I cannot make any 
payments on this one thousand dollar subscription for that 
long period ; but the aid thus rendered will meet your neces- 
sities, as you have explained to me, and shall in this form and 
period be most cheerfully rendered to your noble cause." * 

"Mount Pleasant, Iowa, January 1, 1858. 
" To Rev. M. P. Gaddis, — On this New Year's morning let 
us greet you in the name of our adorable Lord. Through the 
past year he has helped us, saving us from many sorrows, and, 
when afflicted, sanctifying our griefs. On earth or in heaven 
we and our friends are this morning permitted to come before 
his throne and worship him in the beauty of holiness, and if 
some ' are not,' 

' They sing the Lamb in hymns above, 
And we in hymns below 

not forgetting as we sing, 

* The kingdoms are but one.' 

" It seems to me your heavy loss to-day, seeing it is also your 
greater gain, will fill you with joy. It is glorious to have a 
beloved child crowned — made a king and priest unto God for 
ever. These immortal honors, imperishable diadems, cannot 
be gathered on earth. O how that tongue of infancy, which 
scarcely could lisp last New Year's day, now sings, ' Unto Him 
who loved us, and washed us from our sins in his blood.' And 
we catch the notes, and in our humbler sphere (but with almost 
* It was paid in 1860. 



w 

468 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

heavenly rapture) respond, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was 
slain,' etc. O how my unworthy heart grows warm as I write ! 
How precious those views of heaven, and our departed friends 
who have escaped thither, which the Spirit sometimes gives us! 

'Blest Jesus, what delicious fare ! 
How sweet thy entertainments are ! ' 

" We commence the year in somewhat improved health and 
quite improved spirits. Jesus is with us. The form of the Fourth 
is in our dwelling this day. Our weekly female prayer-meeting 
and mixed class are scenes of revival continually, even when 
there is no special work in town. Blessed be the Lord, who 
has not given us over unto death." 

14 Motott Pleasakt, Iowa, April 12, 1858. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Dr. Lucian W. Berry, late president 
of our university here, and now president of the new Missouri 
University, to be erected in the state capital of Missouri, was 
taken ill last November, and has been confined most of the 
winter. He is one of the most talented, pious, and interesting 
ministers of our Church, about forty-five years old, and, if 
restored to health, capable of most important and extensive 
labors in our Church. He has lately been reading Mrs. Pal- 
mer's works — the whole of them. Since his sickness com- 
menced he has been greatly roused up to seek the recovery of 
'perfect love,' which he enjoyed early in his ministry. He 
conversed with us, and I recommended and presented to him 
your books, which he read with great delight and profit. The 
other day he signified a desire to visit you, partly to have Dr. 
P.'s advice, and partly for his spiritual comfort. I shall give 
him a formal letter of introduction, and write these lines to 
explain. You will find him different from Dr. Olin, but 
scarcely less interesting. He is a prince in Israel, and his very 
presence a credential. Though now broken by disease, and 
his speech affected by something appearing like paralysis, 
(though the doctors say it is not,) yet his appearance is com- 
manding and beautiful, as a man made to lead and to be 
admired, one who will leave a broad mark on society." 



DECLINING HEALTH. 469 

"June 7, 1858. 

" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — May the God of all grace and con- 
solation go with you, calm the seas, smooth your paths, multi- 
ply the fruits of your mission, and return you in peace filled 
with righteousness. Your invitation to Exeter Hall is embar- 
rassing to you ; rather more suited to Mrs. Stowe, Spurgeon, etc., 
than to a Fletcher, Bramwell, H. A. Rogers, or Sister Palmer. 
. . . But God will guide you in all things. Farewell." 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, September 20, 1858. 
"To Rev. J. M. Leavitt, — Much company, since you were 
here, has given variety and great comfort. We have just 
parted with our afflicted Sister Berry, whose house was our 
home four weeks when we reached here, and whose sadness, 
with the memorials of her bereavement upon her, makes us sad 
also. What a world of sin and grief, of death and bereavement 
it is in which we live. We see it, and soon, very soon, must ex- 
perience it too. 

" We learn that you decline the Irish agency, and soon expect 
to leave the field of your labor. Wherever it may be, the Lord 
be pleased to make it very fruitful, and of his mercy give you a 
rich harvest, without mildews or blastings of any sort. 

" Brother Cox gives an interesting account of a two years' 
revival in Portland without an extra meeting or sermon, car- 
ried on by prayer meetings, in which often four hundred per- 
sons attend, and Unitarians and even Universalists press to 
them and get converted. 

" Doubtless you are all ready for a close engagement with the 
enemy. Don't let him keep you on too low ground. Emi- 
nences favor observation. Have a pure and bracing atmosphere ; 
this inspires courage in soldiery, and has a great many advant- 
ages above low murky vales, inviting disease and ambush- 
ments. Up to the high grounds, my dear brother, and lead the 
hosts along with you. So Wesley thought and taught. Where 
holiness is preached 1 we seldom fail of one,' that is, a revival of 
religion. May our own souls take and keep the wing, and soar 
continually ! 

" Brother Sears paid us a delightful visit. He grows up into 



470 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLlKE. 



Christ in all things. Brother Crary has been here and came out 
clear in our class-meeting. The work goes on in our class-room. 

" Now, my dear brother, the very God of peace be with you, 
and crown the laboring year with an immortal harvest to glad- 
den you beyond the vail." 

"Mount Pleasant, Iowa, November 18, 1858. 
"To Rev. Jacob Young, — We feel some solicitude to hear 
from you oftener in the cold weather, as we are apprehensive 
that the cold may try your constitution and inflict suffering 
upon you. It is to be hoped, however, that by keeping a warm 
room, and not exposing yourself, you may survive the winter, 
and get abroad once more in the summer, and even preach to 
the people. Mrs. Hamline's father died of paralysis, induced 
by exposure to severe cold after his tendency to it was clearly 
indicated. I find that the cold seriously affects me, and that it 
is necessary for me to be very guarded indeed. The weather 
to-day is the coldest I ever knew so early in the year. Water 
freezes in the rooms without a fire, even at this hour, three 
o'clock P. M. 

" I have just read that our Church increase the last year is 
nearly one hundred and thirty-three thousand. How wonder- 
ful this is. If they go to class and attend on all the ordinances 
of God's house perseveringly, living, and walking, and stand- 
ing by faith, what a sacramental host they will form. 

" These are wonderful times both for suffering and rejoicing. 
The greedy pursuers of the world are plagued like Pharaoh's 
hosts in the Red Sea. Their chariot wheels are off, and they 
flounder in the depths. The greed of the world forsakes them, 
and many of them, disappointed, turn from a vain world to 
Jesus. 

"The great revolutions going on in India and China, and 
another now threatening Syria and other portions of the Mus- 
sulman's territory, are very significant. Meanwhile Russia is 
in a most interesting attitude, her emperor evidently resolved 
to ' stand up for Jesus' against slavery or serfdom, and determ- 
ined to crush out Roman Catholicism by spreading the Bible 
and by forbidding the Latin language to be taught in his realm. 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



471 



u O tliat tlie Church were prepared to meet all these favoring 
tokens, and send forth thousands of missionaries to the harvest- 
fields so earnestly inviting the reapers ! But we may hope that 
the Master will prepare the way, and soon produce in the 
Church a temper and a conduct in harmony with his other 
movements abroad. 

" It is a comfort to see the things which we behold, even if 
we must be mere spectators and not actors in such scenes. Like 
Simeon in the temple, you must feel like exclaiming, 'Mine 
eyes have seen thy salvation.' " 

"Mount Pleasant, Iowa, January 3, 1859. 

" To Rev. J. Young, D. D., — This is the first use of the figure 
9 in dating my letters since 1849. Then I lay sick in the city 
of Cincinnati, almost unto death. The question comes unbid- 
den, Why did I live ? I trust I was then prepared to go, fully 
as well as I now am or perhaps can well be. I can only answer, 
' Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in thy sight.' 

" I am now old and gray-headed, locks almost white. I am 
feeble and sore broken ; all my bones (as it were) out of joint. 
My mind, like my body, is enfeebled. The grasshopper a bur- 
den, the wheel just ready to break at the cistern of life. 

" As to public and Church interests, I find my affections all 
awake concerning them. New phases of society in India 
and China, as well as in Japan, suggest serious and solemn 
meditations as to the state, resources, and obligations of the 
Church, amid such clear indications of Christ's approaching 
reign. Italy, France, and Austria, to say nothing of Turkey 
and other nations and principalities, are evidently nearing an- 
other earthquake period, and both hopes and fears are quick- 
ened at the approach of some terrible convulsion, out of which 
may spring good or evil in regard to the progress and preva- 
lence of Christ's kingdom in the earth, though, whatever may be 
the immediate results, the remoter effects must be good. For — 

' Jesus shall reign where'er the sun 
Does his successive journeys run.' 

" I am in worse health than usual now, and not in very high 
spirits ; but the Lord reigns, and is my rock and my refuge. 



472 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



David Young has followed Finley, and I gloomily say to my- 
self, Jacob Young goes soon in the course of nature, and what 
early friend have I left, Say what we will of death, and with 
heaven in view also, there is a deep gloom in this breaking up 
of earthly ties. I mean not to complain of the economy ; it is 
all right. When transferred to the other side of these Chris- 
tian death-scenes, a new light will doubtless so illustrate and 
beautify them that all the gloom of them will vanish ; but sur- 
veyed on this side the dark valley, we must now and then 
behold them under those guises of sadness which render them 
solemnly mournful. May Infinite Love and pity prepare us to 
pass safely, triumphantly, over the dark waters, exclaiming, 
' Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me V Please continue to 
write as often as possible, and may grace be multiplied unto you 
with all precious blessings." 

" Sunday, February 13. — Did not get to church. Excellent 
class-meeting at home. 

' How sweet and awful is the place, 
"With Christ within the doors ! ' 

" Wednesday, March 2. — Brother Perm came and took his 
leave for the East. O what a work has God wrought for him 
and Sister Penn in one year ! The town is moved by the power 
of God. Revival goes on gloriously. 

" Sunday, 6. — A solemn meeting. This day is thirty-five years 
since my first marriage. Years, where have ye fled ? O my 
Saviour, prepare me for thy presence ! 

" Tuesday, 8. — Gave one hundred dollars to the Mount Pleasant 
Methodist Episcopal Church, in all three hundred and fifty dol- 
lars, to pay a remaining debt. Had not much joy to-day. 
Hope thou in God, for I shall yet praise him, who is the health 
of my countenance and my God ! 

"Sunday, 13. — A good day; precious and pure. Lord, thou 
hast blessed ! Let the whole earth praise thee, Father, Son 
and Holy Ghost ! 

" Tuesday, 15. — Calm, peaceful, hopeful day. The Lord on 
high is mightier than the noise of many waters; yea, than the 
mighty waves of the sea ! 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



473 



" Wednesday, 16. — Another peaceful day, trusting in Jesus. 
' Our soul waiteth on the Lord ; he is our help and our shield ! ' 
Psa. xxxiii, 20. 

" Sunday, 20. — A most blessed evening to my soul. Did not 
go to church, but was comforted in class, before which did not 
escape the buffetings of the enemy. 

" Monday, 21. — This was all the day long a day full of bless- 
ings. Peace ! peace ! The peace of God ! 

" Tuesday, 22. — Not so great flood-tides of comfort to-day. 
I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord Jehovah is my 
strength and my song. He also is become my salvation. 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, March 25, 1859. 

" To Rev. Jacob Young, D. D., — May grace, mercy, and peace 
be with us ; and may we and ours, and the whole Church, be 
'cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, 1 and 
'presented as a chaste virgin to Christ. 7 'The very God of 
peace sanctify us wholly, [and hourly,] and may our whole 
body, soul, and spirit be preserved blameless unto the coming 
of our Lord Jesus Christ ! ' ' Faithful is he that calleth us, 
[saying, Be ye holy, for I the Lord your God am holy,] who 
also will do it ! ' 

" How can it be that such vile worms should be ' raised up 
together and be made to sit together in heavenly places in 
Christ Jesus ? ' that we should, from slaves of sin and Satan, 
become 'a chosen generation — a royal priesthood;' should 
have the 'Spirit of adoption,' crying, 'Abba, Father ; ' should 
be set as seals on his heart who hath called us out of dark- 
ness into his marvelous light,' and appointed us ' heirs of God, 
and joint heirs with Christ,' and promised that we shall 'in- 
herit all things.' 

" "We are nearing the blessed inheritance too, and feel that it is 
not afar off. You left Egypt more than forty years ago, and have 
traveled a good while in the wilderness, suffering some, as your 
Master did ; but now the delightful land is close to you. You 
can, from Beulah, discern its heights, breathe its odors, listen for 
the murmurs of its river of life, and be ready to cross the nar- 
row stream, over which Jesus will so sweetly convey you in his 



474 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



arms and on his bosom to the songs and transports, the crowns 
and thrones, of the redeemed of his dying love. 

" How animating the prospect, and how glorious the waiting, 
patient, hopeful, cheerful posture of a soul thus pausing on 
this side the river of death, and all ready for the fields of light 
and glory. 

" We are striving to press on in the King's highway. A 
company of very intelligent and sanctified souls are journeying 
with us in Mount Pleasant, and often our hearts burn within us 
as the blessed Master communes with us by the way." 

"Mount Pleasant, July 4, 1859. 
" To Eev. Jacob Young, — Though you are old and gray- 
headed, yet it is very pleasant to think of you as about to stay 
a few years in the flesh, not for your own sake, but for the sake 
of our young ministers and the militant Church. But I know 
that you and I both must soon go the way of all the earth. 
You, on account of your extreme age, and I from disease which 
makes me really your senior, though twenty-one years your 
junior in years. I am just able to walk to my son's and 
back, which is three hundred feet from door to door with 
a good board pavement. I have been a little further than 
this some half dozen times in four months, but it generally 
hurts me. 

" We have a large class-meeting in our own house Sabbath 
afternoon, and often fifty persons present. It is the best class 
I ever saw assembled, and I can give you no idea how sweet it 
is to my poor soul. Sabbath week we had Dr. Elliott, Profes- 
sor Whitlock, of Victoria College, Canada, Professor Kelly, 
Brother Coston, two other traveling and four or five local 
preachers. Yesterday we had the class-room filled, so that I 
believe not another chair could have been put in the room. 
But ' the best of all is, God is with us.' O what a mercy to us 
in our old age to have such a privilege ! On Thursday we have 
a female prayer-meeting in the same room, generally about 
twenty-five to thirty present ; and though I do not see, I hear 
the sisters' fervent prayers and praises. Except in an annual or 
general Conference, I have never seen the same number of per- 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



475 



sons as well trained in experimental and practical piety as in 
these two meetings. 

"I am trying to be ready to depart. Generally, death looks 
pleasant. I know that my Redeemer lives. I have faith in 
him. I believe it is faith that works by love and purifies the 
heart, and I hope, after a few days' struggle, to get safely out of 
the vale, and finally rejoin you in heaven. 

" I wish we could see you here ; but at all events trust to 
commune with you there." 

" September 19, 1859. 
" To Dr. and Mrs. P., — The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ 
be with your spirits. ' In this rejoice not that the spirits are 
subject unto you, but rather rejoice that your names are written 
in heaven.' 

" Your names are written in heaven ! What a mystery is con- 
tained in these divine words. We know not, but He knows 
who uttered it, and says to us, rejoice with such a jubilation 
that even the joy of benevolence over those who were delivered 
from the demoniacal possessions of the times, shall be nothing 
in comparison with this other (and seemingly selfish) joy, 
namely, that your names are written in heaven. We joy and 
rejoice with you all ; our whole souls salute you — 1 salute you 
much in the Lord.' 

" When the Master's providence brings you safely over the 
sea, we shall remember to look for your ring at our door as 
you affectionately pledge yourselves. Farewell ! " 

" To Rev. C. W. Sears, — Not in haste, but in feebleness, I 
write a few words. News has just reached us of the death of 
Jacob Young. I feel like an orphan. It is the saddest be- 
reavement of my life, not excepting one, except my companion 
in 1835. 

" I shall go to him ; but he will not return to me. Amen ! 

" I long to be fully ready and follow him. But while I live 
I would live unto the Lord ! 

" Dear Brother L. left us yesterday for home. Spent but one 
night. The God of our fathers be with you and with Sister 
Sears and the lambs of your household, the children, and with 
your charge. 



476 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Be courageous and conquer. Faith, * mighty faith ! ' that 
is the victory which overcometh. Pray for us ! " 

The death of the venerable Jacob Young gave Bishop Ham- 
line a severe shock. He had regarded him with intense and 
reverential affection, and the attachment was mutual. Mr. 
Young had been his first colleague in the ministry when called 
out by the presiding elder as a supply. He and Rev. David 
Young, of Zanesville, had been his counselors from the com- 
mencement of his ministry, and with childlike confidence he 
ever looked up to them as fathers in the Gospel. 

On hearing the news of his death, he was only able to write 
Mrs. Young (at whose father's house he lodged, and who was 
one of the little band who wrestled with him in prayer at the 
time of his conversion) the following note : 

"To Mrs. Young, — Mrs. Hamline requests me to write. 
Alas ! who shall comfort me while I strive to comfort others. 
My father and your husband is in the grave. No — is in heaven. 
But we cannot see his face nor hear his voice. Lord Jesus, help 
and bless and comfort us ! " 

He felt that he was soon to follow, yet he wept much and 
mournfully when he heard that the veteran was gone. 

" Mount Pleasant, September 30, 1859. 

" To Mrs. H. S. Fernandez, — May grace, mercy, and peace 
from our Lord Jesus Christ abound toward you more and 
more, filling you with joy and peace in believing. The plea you 
name — ' Jesus died for me ' — is all we any of us have to plead 
and to trust in forever. But O what a plea ! What a founda- 
tion for trust ! How sweet to use such words before the throne, 
and feel the ' blood applied which washes every stain ' away ! 

" May our poor hearts repose more and more on that blessed 
foundation, and may our dear children find redemption in his 
blood ! We are passing away. Mrs. Hamline is fifty-eight and 
I am sixty-two years of age. But in strength and activity I 
seem a century old, and sometimes feel as though I had lived 
a thousand years. Our old friends are nearly all gone. Jacob 
Young almost closes the procession of the fathers' march to the 



DECLINING HEALTH. 



477 



grave! Dr. Elliott and Brother Coston, living on the same 
block with me a stone's throw off, are a great comfort to me in 
my retired and helpless condition. 

" Please mention me to the children, whom I love much for 
the parents' sake. May Christ be formed in them the hope of 
glory! I weep as I write, remembering the dear departed 
father who so often lifted up holy hands to bless them. Adieu, 
beloved sister, till we meet where our Henry and Eliza and 
other very dear friends wait for us, and where Jesus prepares 
our mansions for us." 

The excellent statesman, the Hon. James Harlan, U. S. Sen- 
ator, having received a letter with inclosure from Bishop Ham- 
line, thus beautifully acknowledges it : 

" Dear Bishop Hamline, — I received your note with inclos- 
ure. The latter I will aj3ply faithfully as you desire; the 
expression of approval contained in the former I esteem as 
a treasure. The commendation of the wise and good is, 
as I suppose, the highest earthly reward that men ever 
receive for their public labors, and, after the approval of 
their own consciences, the most agreeable. 

"It is now over twenty years since I first comprehended 
that the relation existing between man and his Creator, 
Preserver, and Redeemer, requires that he should surrender 
himself to fulfill the will of God. For about eighteen years 
I have been able to say, Not my will, but thine be done, O 
Lord ! I have struggled to learn his will concerning myself, 
and to follow the promptings of his Spirit and providences. 
And the comfort I take in the reflection that in following 
this guiding star I am not responsible for the consequences 
that may follow, is indescribable. He only requires me to 
believe, to come to the light, and to follow the sound of 
his voice, and then takes care of the results. I am persuaded 
that this is true of statesmen and nations, as well as of pri- 
vate persons and the officers of his Church. Should he 
permit me to be a humble instrument in making this great 
country in truth 'the land of the free,' I would consider it 
a very great honor." Yours truly, James Harlan." 



478 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

BEARING THE LAND BETJLAH. 

Early in the year 1860 Bishop Hamline made the following 
record : "lam now impelled to note down, for my family and 
intimate friends, and for my own edification, a few of God's 
dealings with my poor soul. I have, with comfort to myself, 
spent thirty-two years in the ministry of God's holy word, and 
believe the Lord called me to the work ; and though I have not 
• labored as faithfully and successfully as I ought, I am thankful 
now, when closing up life and its labors, that I did not refuse 
to enter on the work and strive to preach Christ. 

" For eight years I have been superannuated, and God has 
1 tried me as silver is tried ;' but he has often sweetened those 
trials by his presence in a marvelous manner, and now, day by 
day, ' my fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus 
Christ.' Though almost helpless, and dependent on my 
devoted, affectionate wife for personal attentions, which her 
exemplary patience never wearies in bestowing on me, (thanks 
to thy name, O my God, for such a gift !) yet I am far more 
contented and cheerful than in the best days of my youth. O 
thou adorable Redeemer, who hast bought me with thy blood, 
and new-created me by thy Spirit, grant that this record of thy 
love and mercy to one so unworthy, may be a blessing to my 
children and children's children when I am gone the way of all 
flesh, for Christ's sake. Amen." 

"January 26, 1860. 
" To Dr. and Sister P., — These are days of holy peace and 
heavenly joy to our souls. Beulah is a fair and delightsome 
region. The view of the new Jerusalem which Bunyan 
describes is enrapturing to the soul. Who that gazes at it 
from this side of Jordan, with the ' faith which stands in the 
power of God,' can be discontented or murmur at all while toiling 



| 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



479 



in a pilgrimage which leads directly thither ! What recks it 
that there are troubles and cares by the way, especially when 
He whose presence goes with us invites us to cast ' all our care 
on him ? ' "What recks it that it be somewhat stormy at sea, if 
we know that the ship will come safe into port ? ' My soul 
doth magnify the Lord. My spirit (greatly) rejoices in God my 
Saviour. He is my defense, I shall not be greatly moved.' We 
salute you much in the Lord with humble thanksgivings in 
your behalf, and repeated prayers for your health, holiness, 
happiness, and increasing usefulness, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen." 

"February 29, 1860. 
" To Kev. L. Swormstedt, — I have been confined all winter 
almost entirely to my house. Have been off of the square but 
once in three months, but my confinement has been as a para- 
dise. My soul never dwelt so fully under the shadow of his 
wing as it does now. It seems as though only a thin vail 
separates my soul from glory ; not from God, for I dwell as near 
to him as my humanity can bear, and sometimes I am ready to 
cry out with Fletcher, 1 Lord, withhold thy hand ! ' And like 
him, I cry, ' O for a gust of praise to go through the universe ! ' 
( God is love.' 

" O, my dear brother, this faith is a wonderful power in the 
soul. 4 Believe, only believe,' the Spirit whispers in my heart. 
I believe, and, glory to God ! I am saved. May the Lord bless 
you more and more for Christ's sake ! " 

" March 1, 1860: 

" To Kev. B. F. Chary, — Your last was duly received, but I 
have scarcely written any this winter, and am now so blind 
and dizzy that this sheet dances before me as I write. 

" I have had a poor winter as to bodily health, but a gracious 
revival in my soul, especially for a few weeks past ' O how 
sweet the moments roll ' with * Christ in us the hope of glory ! ' 
So they pass with me. Not a tedious moment from day to day ; 
no aching void within ; no thorn, except ' in the flesh ;' but ' peace 
like a river,' broad and deep, and often overflowing in floods 
°f joy- O how wonderful that administration of grace which 
can make an unworthy sinner to partake of pardon, peace, and 



480 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIN E. 



heaven ! O that the world could know what the Gospel of 
God's grace can do for those who believe and obey it ! And 
what a tedious old age would mine now be but for this inward 
paradise, which makes old age a thousand times more cheerful 
than the heyday of hopeful youth. 

* Jesus is precious to my soul, 
My transport and my trust.' 

I rejoice in the relief you found from Brother Claflin's 
letter. ' It is of the Lord.* He loves to surprise us with bless- 
ings. I pray that you may often be thus surprised, if you are 
often needing such surprises.' 1 

" March 1, 1S60. 

K To Rev. Joh^ T. Mitchell. — Mrs. H. thinks I owe you a 
letter, and whether or no, I feel a great desire to write. 

" It seems to me I am nearing my heavenly home, and cannot 
stay long below. If otherwise, my words will do no harm ; 
and if so, let me say to you. Farewell ! 

% - 1 have peace with God and with all mankind. I am, if not 
greatly mistaken, ready to depart and be with Christ, and 
should I depart suddenly, you may indulge the hope that I am 
gone to the land of the pure and the blessed. The Spirit bears 
witness with my spirit now. and nearly every hour and moment, 
that I am a child of God ; and the Spirit of His Son is sent forth 
into my heart, crying, 1 Abba, Father/ 

" I feel very willing to live, very willing to die. If I live. ' I 
live unto the Lord.' So I now live hour by hour. My thoughts, 
my desires, all my affections flow to Christ without an effort on 
my part : and all my bliss — O how great the bliss ! — Is from his 
dwelling in me. and my conscious apprehension of his presence 
in me hour by hour. The passing year is the happiest of my 
life. Old age, disease, helplessness, con fin ement are no seeming 
drawbacks on my 1 joy unspeakable.' 

'The winter's night and summer's day 
Glide imperceptibly a"vray, 

Too short to sing his praise ; 
Too few I find the happy hours, 
And haste to join those heavenly powers 

In everlasting lays.' 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



481 



These are my experiences day by day. I am attired in the 
wedding robe, and waiting to be called. 

" My impression of little time remaining to me is not a pre- 
monition, not a religious impression ; it is the result of observa- 
tion on the state of my health, and the loss of physical strength. 
God may revive me and make me stronger, but it does not 
seem probable ; besides, I am so drawn upward in all my affec- 
tions and thoughts, that it seems as though I must go soon to 
the bosom of Infinite Love. 

' O that the world might taste and see 

The riches of his grace ! 
The arms of love that compass me 

Would all mankind embrace.' 

" Farewell, dear brother, and bid Sister M. farewell if you 
hear from me no more." 

To this excellent minister Bishop H. was exceedingly 
attached. Their communings were often highly spiritual. 
On one occasion, when together crossing the Grand Prairie 
through Illinois, then almost a wilderness, the day was spent 
in recitals of religious experience. On this occasion Mr. 
Mitchell rehearsed with great particularity the circumstances 
# of his conversion and call to the ministry, and also those of his 
reception of the " pearl of perfect love." As with the disciples 
on the way to Emmaus, the Saviour communed with them. It 
was a memorable day to both. With immortal tongues they 
now converse in the presence of the Lamb. 

Bishop II. was accustomed to beguile the tedious rides which 
in those years occupied much of his time, by repeating, in 
alternation with his companions, texts of Scripture and stanzas 
of hymns. One of these rides over the prairies of Iowa was 
rendered memorable by the realization of the divine presence 
to all the company. The sixteenth chapter of St. John had 
thus been repeated, with other passages, when the heavenly 
overshadowing came. 

"Sunday morning, March 18. — It is nearly three months since 
I visited the sanctuary; but O, thou blessed Redeemer, how 
many visits of mercy has my soul received from thee in these 

21 



452 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



three months ! How near art thou to me this day. this 
moment ! Surely I may say, ' Soul of my soul thou art f for 
what a deep and solemn consciousness hare I now that Christ 
is ' in me the hope of glory ! ' O thou infinitely glorious God. 
Father. Son. and Spirit, how canst thou come into so un- 
worthy a temple as this poor heart, and so display thy power 
to pardon, cleanse, and fill with joy unspeakable ! Thou 
causest me, the ' chief of sinners,' to * dwell in love and dwell 
in God." Thou hast erected thy throne within me. To my 
enraptured consciousness thou art most intimately and as- 
suredly present, AH swallowed up in thee, the spontaneous 
exclamation of my heart is. 

4 'lis heaven to dwell in thine embrace, 
Ani n; wi:er-r else bat there.' 

Lord. I am thine, thine now. henceforth, and for ever. Last 
evening was a precious season to my soul. "While sitting with 
Mrs. H. in prayerful and delightful conversation on Christ and 
his gracious work in our hearts and the hearts of others, the 
Holy Ghost descended upon me. To my consciousness this 
was certain, as though my wakeful eyes had beheld the Spirit 
as a dove descend and sit upon each of us : nay, it was more 
satisfactory ; but it waked up the inquiry, ' How can it be that 
the Holy Ghost should render me so assured that it is himself 
who produces such love, peace, and "joy in the Holy Ghost"* 
in my unworthy heart ! " such assurance that the all-glorious 
God lived and moved within me. During the evening, while 
my dear wife repeated to me the hymn, 

' Jesus, lever of my soul,' 

it seemed to me that I could inwardly and assuredly feel that 
I did • to his bosom fly." as certainly and unmistakably as ever 
the helpless babe reposed in the sheltering arms of its parent. 
But, O glorious mystery of grace and love divine! But how 
vain to inquire after the manner of the deep things of God. 
I know not how, but the glorious fact I do know: 

■ And lo ! frcm sin. and grief, and shame, 
I hide me, Jesus, in thy name.' 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 483 



" Tuesday, 20. — For two days past I have had great inward 
peace; peace with God through my Lord Jesus Christ. To- 
day, in singing and prayer with my beloved wife, the Lord 
very graciously visited and baptized us in a wonderful man- 
ner. I had given myself to God in the closet early in the 
morning; but little did I expect that Jesus would also give 
himself to me in so glorious a manner. O thou blessed One, 
who hast taken my soul captive, and drawest me to thee in 
so sweet and powerful a manner, that my soul seems rising 
to thee in spite of all earthly weights and hinderances, enable 
me to be patient under the delay of thy coming to receive 
me to thyself. Thou seest how I long for thee! My soul 
' folio weth hard after thee ! ' ' Whom have I in heaven but t 
thee?' and what on earth can I desire but thee? O, with 
what longings hast thou caused me to desire thee! 'My soul 
thirsteth for God, for the living God ; when shall I come and 
appear before God ? ' Blessed be thy holy name forever that 
thou hast filled me with these unutterable desires to be absent 
from the body and be present with the Lord ! But thou who 
givest me such a longing for thy presence and thy glory, wilt 
give meekness and patience to wait on thy holy will and 
pleasure, until 'I shall behold thy face in righteousness. I 
shall be satisfied when I awake in thy likeness ! ' 

u Sunday, April 1. — Since my last record in this "journal 
of God's dealings," I have been in the tempest. How sudden 
the transition from Tabor to Gethsemane ! I have been strug- 
gling to give myself more fully to Christ, and gain a clearer 
self-knowledge; and instead of either, seem to have involved 
my soul in many and severe trials. The tempter came to me, 
and for some ten days has harassed my soul with temptations 
to doubt and misgivings. More than 'a night and a day' 
have I been in the deep ; the deep of his devices to annoy 
me if he could not destroy. At times, and yesterday more 
especially, I was in an agony ; but not like that of my ador- 
able Lord in the garden. I could not say, { Whose sorrow is 
like unto my sorrow ? ' for I had read of many children of 
God whose agony equaled or exceeded mine. But I shall 
come forth as gold tried in the fire, and feel already that the 



484 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



day breaks and the shadows flee away. O Lord, I will trust 
and not be afraid, for thou art my God for ever and ever. 
' Thou knowest all things,' and looking into this heart, ' thou 
knowest that I love thee' with a great and marvelous love, 
which none but thine omnipotent Spirit could inspire in a 
nature so corrupt and so revolted from God. I will praise 
thee, therefore, with my whole heart ! I will sing praises unto 
my God while I have any being ! ' My soul shall make her 
boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof and be 
glad ! ' ' Bless the Lord, O my soul ! ' 

" Sunday, 22. — Have been quite poorly of late, but for three 
or four days have improved. Have partaken of the Lord's 
Supper to-day in my room. It was a sacrament to my soul. 
The 'Lamb slain' was here. It may be probably my last. 
How wonderful his condescension who comes so near to such 
a sinful worm. To-day I might think I shall see war no more ; 
but I know too well the liabilities of probation to expect ex- 
emption from assault. Lord, teach me to war, and bring me 
off more than conqueror! 

' Sure I must fight if I would reign ; 
Increase my courage, Lord.' 

For two things I have been very solicitous : First, To adjust 
my faith to the law as well as the promises, so that I equally 
trusted for salvation and strove after obedience. Second, To 
adjust my conscience to the promises as well as the law, so 
that I felt equally guilty for not trusting and not obeying." 

The following item was written after adjusting a business 
matter in which he found an unexpected and very remarkable 
increase in the value of the realty in interest. 

" CALCULATION. 

" Thus my heavenly Father gives me, as though it was sent 
from heaven, in the course of fifteen months, $12,405 00 

Or in each month 827 00 

Or each week, about 190 00 

Or each day 27 00 

Or each hour s 116 



NEAKING THE LAND BEULAH. 



485 



Each hour, then, should I offer special thanks to God for earthly 
go*od. How much more should I praise him eyery hour for 
the great gift, Jesus Christ my Lord. 

' DeUS NOBIS HiEC OTIA FECIT. 

Namque evit ille mihi semper Deus ; illius aram 
Leper tener nostris ab ovilibus irnbuet agnus.' 

' I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call 
upon the name of the Lord.' O Lord, enable me that I may be 
very thankful for these gifts, for they are from thy hand ; that 
I may be very dutiful in the use of them, for thou wilt call me 
to a solemn account." 

"■May 5, 1860. 

"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — You may well each say, 1 Surely 
goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, 
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.' And how 
unspeakable the satisfaction to see God's altars all crowded 
with seekers of his salvation, and multitudes praising him day 
and night in his temple. The echoes of their songs seem to 
reach our hearts, and our praises shall ascend with theirs to 
the common Redeemer who gave himself a ransom for us all. 

" We see smaller clouds of mercy arise on our ' thirsty land; ' 
but we despise not the day of small things. Receive our broth- 
erly greetings in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, September 24, 1860. 
"To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Yours from the Isle of Wight is 
duly received. We thank you for so interesting and fraternal 
a' letter in the midst of your harvest toils, and wonder how 
you could redeem so much time for acts of private friendship. 
But the Holy Spirit enables you to act on that rule of dis- 
cipline, 

4 Leave no moments unemployed.' 

As we read your letter, the gratitude of our hearts for God's 
goodness to you moved us to 'Bless the Lord' on your be- 
half. And again we say, ' Bless the Lord O my soul ! ' Truly 
' the Lord of hosts is with ' you ; ' the God of Jacob is ' your 
' refuge.' May the blessed Spirit enable you more and more. 
May he 1 teach your hands to war and your fingers to fight, and 



486 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



cover your head in the day of battle ! ' May the Comforter 
abide with you forever ! 

" Mrs. Hainline and myself are striving for the crowns, and 
in a small way speak for Jesus. Our Thursday prayer-meeting 
of the sisters, and our Sabbath class-meeting, are our chief op- 
portunities. I do not get to church at all on account of a dis- 
tressingly diseased foot ; but the class- meeting is a great com- 
fort to me, and without it I know not what I should do. I 
believe I have missed but one or two class-meetings in almost 
three and a half years, and what an amount of holy comfort I 
have received through them I cannot tell. Yet some of our 
preachers and people are sadly neglecting them, and wish they 
were ' done away.' 

" And Walter has returned ? O may the Divine covenant- 
keeper o'ershadow him day and night ! 

" Now, my dear friends, I must bid you good-night. I have 
thought while writing that it is probably my last correspond- 
ence with you. I am all a wreck. I read the Psalms of David 
and Wesley's Hymns with unspeakable joy, and can say in the 
words of John Foster, ' I can pray, and what a glorious privi- 
lege is that.' The great truths of our holy religion never seemed 
so glorious as they now do. I think I can intrust all my inter- 
ests for a boundless future to the glorious author or revealer of 
these truths, and in the assured hope of employing that future 
with you and all the purified in God's holy presence and 
service. 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, December 1Y, 1860. 
" To Rev. Bishop Isbell, — We were happy to receive yours, 
and catch from your facile pen some new thoughts on the pass- 
ing events which, I am sure, must be fulfilling some leading 
prophetic passages in God's Holy Word. Surely such great 
changes as are now transpiring in many departments of human 
society, have a prominence in the prophetic pictures of the seers 
well worthy of careful and prayerful investigation. The man- 
ner of these events themselves is to me marvelous. How rapid 
the movements of Italy ! They seem almost like enchantment. 
In three months Garibaldi conquers a nation, against almost 
unimaginable odds, lays it at the feet of a king elected by the 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



487 



suffrages of that nation, deposing the best guarded monarch 
on earth, as we supposed, and retires, like our Washington, from 
all the honors of public life to enjoy in strict privacy the com- 
forts of a rude but happy home, where he may, undisturbed, 
pray for the land his sword has redeemed. He may sing 
Deborah's song, for by his arm the Lord has conquered glori- 
ously. God overturns and overturns, and he whose right it is 
will soon take to himself his great power, and reign. Even 
so, come, Lord Jesus, come quickly. Amen. We are feeble, 
and sore broken in strength and health. But Providence, I 
trust, will take care of us all. My head whirls with weari- 
ness of writing." 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, December 22, 1860. 

" To Mrs. H. H. Bigelow, — Tell H. to be sober, devout, and 
diligent, and his youth of poverty will be a blessing to him. 
But if he, like too many of our ' stark-mad ' Yankees, leave the 
pure ' blessed Gospel of the Son of God' for chaff, and for the 
' cunning craftiness of men ; ' for witches, necromancers ; for 
' wizards that mutter and peep,' as the Bible calls them, he will 
live (and probably die) a fool. 

"I found here a venerable and well-educated Methodist 
brother out of the Church, who had been a fine physician near 
forty-five years, given up to ' spiritualism,' and mad with cre- 
dulity on the subject. I labored with him two years, when he 
recovered his peace with God, renounced all its 'filthy com- 
munications' in ' circles,' etc., denounced its deceits and abomi- 
nations, and now is clothed and in his right mind, wondering 
at the audacity of his apostasy, and the mercy of his restoration 
to Christ, and has present 'joy unspeakable and full of glory.' 
I suppose worlds would not tempt him into a 'circle' for five 
minutes. His wife led him astray as Eve did Adam of yore. 
She died in mercy, and he returned to that Jesus whom he 
had crucified (as he says) in his heart. 

"We are right in the midst of that period referred to in 
Rev. xvi, 13, and the 'spirits of devils working miracles' will 
multiply wonders and deceive the nations.' The Lord in mercy 
save us in the trying hour. 

"I thank you much for II. 's ambrotype. It is a beautiful 



488 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



form and countenance. If Providence guides him, and he 
seeks the Lord as David did, and believes like Abraham, and 
is diligent and obedient like Moses, and pure like Joseph, and 
devout like Enoch who walked with God, maybe, like them, he 
may come to a great and glorious career." 

" Saturday, March 10, 1861. — Faith and stability, impulsive- 
ness and changeableness ; one is like the Rock of Ages on which 
it rests, the other like the tossing waves. 

u Very feeble ; am quite sure I am going soon ; need not care 
for the future of earth. Heaven never seemed to me before as 
it does now — so near. When I read of Fernandes, etc., they 
seem nearer to me than any thing of earth. It seems as though 
I could almost touch my Saviour's hand. He will stretch it 
out and draw me over Jordan. 

' sing the incarnate Word, 

Who bled and died for me I 
O sing of my redeeming Lord, 

Who died on Calvary ! 
Sing of his wondrous love, 

Who saved a guilty race.' 

"April 2, 1861. 

u To Dr. and Mrs. P., — Were you to enter New York this 
morning, or any other large Eastern city, with what amazement 
would you look upon the scene ! War, war, civil war, would 
confront you in all aspects except the very battlefield itself, and 
in two hours we expect to learn that from 100,000 to 150,000 
men are in deadly conflict at Washington and its vicinity. 
Every city and village of fifty houses in the North and South 
is probably this morning marshaling troops and impatient to 
reach the battlefield. 

" You will cry out in agony, ' How came it ? How can it be ? ' 
We cannot tell you in a sheet, but I will give you the words of 
Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, Vice-President of the new 
Southern Republic: 'In forming the old Constitution our 
fathers were in a great error. They believed slavery wrong, 
and of course intended it should not last, and framed the old 
Constitution wrong to suit their wrong creed. The South be- 
lieve slavery right and to be perpetuated. Our new Constitu- 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 489 



tion is based on African slavery as right, and is therefore the 
best Constitution on earth.' Virginia, South Carolina, Georgia, 
Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas, and Louisiana are gone, 
and North Carolina, Tennessee, Arkansas, and probably Ken- 
tucky and Missouri, will go. We hope Maryland and Delaware 
will stay ; but all is uncertain. 

" The United States forces have been driven from every har- 
bor, fort, arsenal, and mint in the Southern States, except Fort 
Pickens at Pensacola, and that is surrounded with some 20,000 
Southerners. Washington city is threatened by 50,000, and our 
government is raising 70,000 to resist them and repossess the 
harbors and forts. I would not be surprised if 200,000 men 
would volunteer in the North, and Mr. Lincoln will accept all 
that offer. He acts only on the defensive, and to retake our 
own property seized by them ; but he acts with Jacksonian 
vigor, and is winning the hearts of the North. I think he is a 
Heaven-ordained instrument for this fearful exigency. All 
parties in the North are one, and for war. I never heard so 
many prayers offered for a President, Cabinet, Congress, mili- 
tary officers, etc. While I write, the noise of drums and fifes, 
and waving of banners are all around, and seventy-eight young 
men — rnore than half members of churches, several young can- 
didates for the ministry — are on parade. 

" Last Sabbath at a meeting several arose, and in most affect- 
ing language bade their brethren adieu, and said, 'We have 
enlisted to fight for God and liberty, 1 and implored the prayers 
of the Church. Ministers of all denominations have enlisted ; 
and if the President should call for 500,000 men, I have no 
doubt 1,000,000 would volunteer. Pennsylvania has offered 
100,000 men when only 15,000 were called for. 

"Virginia attempted by a sudden movement to seize the 
United States' Arsenal at Harper's Ferry ; but the commander, 
with only fifty men, set fire to it and escaped to Pennsylvania. 
The Virginians are collecting men there, and have 6,000, and, 
it is believed, will descend on Washington, and assail it on the 
east, while other Southern troops attack it on the west. The 
Gosport Navy Yard, at Norfolk, is said to be burnt, and For- 
tress Monroe stands ready to burn Norfolk and Portsmouth. 

21* 



490 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" In Baltimore the people are divided, about half Secession- 
ists and half Union. This brings war in the city, and some 
fifteen men have been killed. But I must stop. I wish I could 
give you some idea of things, but it is difficult. 

" I believe the war is now driving the people to their closets. 
But war is demoralizing, and in the end will be bad, unless 
God is in the midst of our armies in a very special manner. 
The cause is holy, more so than the Revolution of '76. Then 
a few taxes without representation ; now every righteous prin- 
ciple conceivable is involved, and self-preservation, for we are 
assailed, and have not given the least provocation. 

" P. S. — Astor, it is reported, offers fourteen millions of money 
to President Lincoln, and Vanderbilt all his steamers to fight 
with." 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, September 26, 1861. 

"To Db. and Mrs. P., — Yours has just come to hand, and 
as I feel somewhat better than usual, I pen a few lines in reply. 

"We are both fading away. Mrs. H. grows old very fast, 
and I seem to myself as bearing the infirmities of threescore 
years and fifty along with me to the grave. My sight, hearing, 
walking — my penmanship, orthography, etymology, syntax, 
and prosody — all fail. I comfort myself that in this catholic 
wreck and ruin the blessed Saviour, by his Spirit, fortifies my 
faith, and religion is fresh and sweet — is life in the midst of 
death. 

" Your successful labors to bring souls to Christ greatly cheer 
me in this horn* of darkness. As the glory crowns England, 
Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, and spreads beyond to the north 
and south, it seems to wane on this side the Atlantic. Indeed, 
every thing here yields to war. On the territory which you left 
so peaceful a few months ago, more than 600,000 warriors now 
confront each other in the field. The whole line of division 
from Norfolk up the Chesapeake and Potomac, and westward 
as far as Utah, is gleaming with swords, bayonets, and scalping- 
knives, for our ' southern brethren 1 have employed the Indians, 
as well as slaves, against us. 

"1 believe the world in all its ages has seen no such war. 
The principal points of impending conflict are the Potomac, 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



491 



below and at Washington city, with near 200,000 men on each 
side; Harper's Ferry, with near 40,000 each; the springs of 
Virginia and on to the Kanawha River, with 30,000 each ; and 
Missouri and westward, with some 50,000 each. At each of 
these points battles are expected every hour. Besides, we have 
under sail, and preparing, more than a hundred war vessels, and 
many of them are now starting south in fleets of from five to 
fifteen vessels to assail southern seaports and forts, and pene- 
trate the Southern States with smaller bodies of troops. News 
now reaches us that General Fremont has just started with 
from 20,000 to 30,000 men by railroad, with about twenty 
steamers on the Missouri, froni St. Louis, to attack from 30,000 
to 50,000 rebels at Jefferson City and Lexington, up near the 
Kansas line. Every day brings news of more or less small bat- 
tles or skirmishes, say between from one hundred to six hund- 
red on each side. Last week there was a battle at Lexington 
between 20,000 rebels and 4,000 of our troops which lasted three 
days, in which our men were finally surrounded and taken. 
Fremont is on the way to avenge the loss, expecting, however, 
to encounter some 45,000 rebels at Jefferson City before he 
reaches Lexington. He hopes to cut both armies to pieces, but 
we fear the rebel armies may form a junction and destroy our 
army. 

" Enlistments are going on at the North, at the rate of 4000 
to 5000 per week, and it takes only from sixty to eighty days 
to lay the keel of a war ship to carry eight or ten rifled cannon 
and send it out to sea. 

" We sing and pray and watch and fight at home. We plead 
for country, the loyalists, the rebels, but most of all for the 
poor slaves. We feel that the North, under the present war 
regimen, has become responsible for slavery as never before, and 
must, under military rule, pronounce the slaves free, or God 
will not allow us to suppress this rebellion. Millions who have 
been strong conservatives hitherto believe this now. This is 
our fast-day eve, and I suppose more prayers have ascended to 
heaven this day, for the liberation of the slaves, than have been 
offered in twenty years previous to the commencement of this 
rebellion. My hand tires." 



492 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



This year, as on former occasions, the bishops at the Annual 
Meeting, held in Springfield, Ohio, December 13, 1861, wrote to 
their disabled brother : 

w Convened for our annual consultation, we avail ourselves of 
the opportunity to write you a fraternal letter. Though you 
have long been deprived, by want of health, of the privilege of 
participating in the active duties of the ministry, we doubt not 
but you still feel greatly interested in Zion's prosperity. We 
remember with pleasure the days of other years, when you 
shared with us the responsibility of the general oversight, when 
we consulted and prayed, preached and exhorted, wept and 
rejoiced together. Since you retired from the field, to seek rest 
and health, we have toiled on, as God enabled us, with humble 
reliance on our heavenly Father. The result is before the pub- 
lic. In the mean time we have deeply sympathized with you in 
your sore and protracted afflictions, such as we supposed would 
long since have brought your final release. That you yet live, 
is proof of supporting grace and cause of devout thanksgiving 
to God. We pray that the Lord may be with you to the end 
of life's painful conflict, then bring you to the heavenly in- 
heritance. We hope to join you there. 

"Wishing many blessings to Sister Hamline, yourself, and 
children, we are dear brother, as ever and for ever, yours in the 
love of Jesus, T. A. Morris, M. Simpson, 

E. S. Janes, O. C. Baker, 

L. Scott, E. K. Ames." 

" January 21, 1862. 
u To Hon. James Harlan, — I seize the first scrap of paper I 
find to say that it seems to me the best way, if not the only 
way, to meet the rising tide of treason in the West, is to arm 
and train one hundred and fifty thousand blacks as soon as 
possible. They will be in the field as one hundred and fifty 
thousand loyal Republicans. If the war takes a turn that so 
many can be spared from the field, the white Republicans can 
return and vote. If they cannot be spared, then it will save a 
draft, and perhaps great difficulty. I know it is a bold measure, 
but such measures are often the salvation of a people, a 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



493 



dynasty, a government. You remember the language of 
Junius : ' If the prophet had not armed himself with boldness, 
he would have been hung for the malice of his parable.' 
Boldness is in the advancing success of traitors ; boldness has 
carried this rebellion forward to the formidable stage it has 
now reached ; resistance, on the other hand, has been temperate, 
prudent, and if not now made to shape itself into an aspect 
bold and fiery like their own, I fear we are lost. The boldest 
measures are now safe, I think. We have prudence and 
humanity enough for history, we need boldness for triumph. 
Arming three hundred thousand blacks would make traitors, 
North and South, hate us no more, but would cause loyalists 
to distrust us far less. To seek, by mild measures, to conciliate 
the former is hopeless policy. The government must address 
itself to the fears, not to the hopes or favor of the Benedict 
Arnolds of the age. 

"Pardon me for dogmatizing. I forgot, in the passion of 
writing, that I addressed a senator who knows so much better 
than I do. I write with pain and confusion in my head too, so 
that I can scarcely see my pen-marks. 

" Mrs. H. says, ' Please remember me affectionately to Mrs. 
Harlan, and be assured yourself of our respect and prayers.' 

" P. S. — Suppose it comes to the worst, and some hundreds 
of thousands in Illinois and elsewhere attempt a bold revolt, 
would not the armed blacks be a formidable force to put down 
revolt and save the country ? No danger that freed slaves 
will turn democrats and revolt." 

" September 28, 1862. 
" To Mrs. H. H. Bigelow, — A paper from your place gives 
me reason to conclude that your son has enlisted. I did not 
feel like urging his enlistment, but will now say I most heartily 
approve of it. I think every young man in America of right 
age and good health should give himself to his country. My 
son is not very young nor very vigorous, but if he chooses to go 
I will not say a word. He has offered as a surgeon, and has 
been examined and approved ; but there are so many pressing 
their claims on the governor, that he who does not urge himself 
forward has no chance; besides, many doctors are poor and 



49-i LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 

without practice, and are appointed in compassion to their 
families, while they know that my son is well off from his 
mother's estate." 

" Mount Pleasant, March 3, 1863. 

" To Rev. L. M. Vernon, — I have longed to write to you 
for a year or more, but my eyes, head, and nerves almost 
wholly prevent my writing. A letter from Bishop Morris has 
remained unanswered for months. 

" ' Preach the word, be instant in season and out of season.' 
Work night and day for our adorable Lord. 4 1 am now ready 
to be offered,' quite on the verge of heaven. 

" Dr. Elliott just bade me farewell, and I expect to see his 
face no more until 'death is swallowed up in victory.' O I 
feel the victory, even now, through all my inmost soul ! " 

" May 15. — O thou my adorable High Priest, thou seeest 
that while my memory fails, and all the powers of body and 
mind sink in decay, these glowing affections embrace thee, 
flow to thee, delight in thee ! Come then, O come and receive 
me to thyself, that where thou art, whom my soul loveth, there 
I may be also ! 

" June 13. — Thirty-five years, blessed Jesus, have I been thy 
disciple and a child in our Father's family. Thou knowest too 
that I have been a churlish child and an indocile disciple, yet 
thou knowest also that I have loved thee with a great and 
sincere love, as I do at this moment ; and now when I feel that 
death is at hand, and expect each moment to meet thee, how 
many offenses are to be pardoned and pollutions washed away ! 
But I freely trust thy blood and Holy Spirit to accomplish all, 
and to thy mercy I commit alL Save my dear wife and chil- 
dren also, and to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be praise for 
ever and ever. Amen ! " 

The editor of the Northwestern Christian Advocate, Rev. 
Dr. Eddy, returning from a visit to the bishop July 1, 1863, 
writes : " We enjoyed a pleasant interview with this venerable 
and eminent minister. He looks older than when we saw him 
years ago. His hair is white, his beard is of silvery hue, but 
the tones of his voice are as in days long since. His health is 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



495 



frail. Providentially on Saturday he was unusually well, and 
we had several hours' interesting conversation. Old days, past 
scenes, mutual friends, the country and the Church were spoken 
of. His spiritual sky is clear. For the Church he has strong 
faith, for the country unswerving loyalty, with deep loathing of 
home-traitors and spurious patriots. Mrs. Hamline is also in 
frail health, and, with her husband, is looking for the better 
home. We will bear with us the memory of our interviews and 
the meeting at the mercy-seat. 

" They have made a liberal arrangement for the benefit of 
the Park Avenue Mission Church, for which they merit the 
gratitude of the Church." 

" Mount Pleasant, April 10, 1864. 
" To Rev. Z. H. and Mrs. Coston, — I have been very happy 
to-day, yet weep much. O how precious is Jesus! 'the sin- 
ner's Friend,' when, broken-hearted and believing, we cast 
ourselves on him for ever and ever. We are not afraid to trust 
in him. 

1 Jesus, the sinner's Friend, to thee, 
Lost and undone, for aid I flee.' 

O precious Friend ! 

' I know thee, Saviour, who thou art : 
Jesus, the feeble sinner's Friend.' 

Old age, sickness, sorrow, death near at hand, all cannot drive 
me from thee, blessed Jesus ! The more they gather and center 
on us, the more closely and confidingly we trust in thee, O thou 
Lamb of God, who takest away the sin of the world ! Praised 
be the name of our God for ever and ever ! And let all the 
people say Amen ! 

" Sister Swormstedt of Cincinnati is with us for a few weeks. 
Her dear, precious husband, whom we loved so much, is in 
heaven, and she in weeds of sorrow, yet full of faith and of the 
Holy Ghost, waiting to pass over. She said this morning what 
was a blessing to us, and may be to you — " 

Having written thus much, Mr. H. was unable to proceed, and 
said to his wife, "Finish." She adds: "Sister Swormstedt 



496 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



said, as referred to above, ' I have received most of my great 
blessings through thanksgiving for mercies, even the smallest ; 
at least they have commenced in this way, and then, as thank- 
fulness increased, and mercies larger and yet larger have been 
brought to mind, I have been lost in God.' 9 

" Mount Pleasant, Iowa, April 19, 1864. 

"To Bev. Z. H. Coston, — Yours of the fifteenth instant 
arrived this morning, and its affecting news was read with such 
emotion as you would expect from the pleasant chastening 
society we enjoyed with you and your sainted wife. I drop a 
note to say you have our deep and prayerful sympathy. "We 
both, you know, have passed through those cypress shades, 
and know, better than you ever did until now, how dark the 
vale, cheered indeed by no light but from that Sun of Right- 
eousness, which shed his beams so brightly on the death scene 
at which you just now gazed with tearful admiration. We 
catch the blessed song from her dying lips, ' Glory to Jesus ! ' 
Be comforted, my mourning brother, with 'very full comfort' 
while you bear those words in your very heart's memory along 
to the same joyful translation scene which awaits you, and I 
trust us also, and for which and its issues we wait in hope. 

" Mrs. H. joins in all these expressions of sympathy, and in 
prayers for your hourly peace and comfort in Jesus, our founda- 
tion and strength." 

It is pleasant to observe how tenderly the bond of brother- 
hood was cherished between the effective Board of Bishops and 
the afflicted Bishop Hamline, during all the years of his pro- 
tracted suffering. Not once did they meet but a kindly note 
was addressed to their suffering brother. From the last 
General Conference they wrote : 

" Philadelphia, May 26, 1864. 
"Rev. L. L. Hamline: Dear Brother, — Accept our fra- 
ternal salutations in the Lord. Those of us who had the privi- 
lege of being associated with you in the cares and duties of the 
episcopal office and work, remember with great satisfaction 
the fellowship of labor and love of those eight years. All of us 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



497 



remember, with interest and high appreciation, your association 
with us in the holy and active ministering of our Lord Jesus 
Christ. 

" We are very thankful that, since your retirement from the 
effective ranks of the ministry, you have been enabled in so 
many ways to serve your fellow-men and to honor God. 

" We are grateful to our heavenly Father that in your years 
of superannuation you have been so divinely sustained and so 
greatly cheered and comforted by the Holy Spirit. 

" It is with us, also, a matter of praise to God that you have 
been so exempted from acute sufferings, and that so many years 
have been added to your life upon earth. 

" God has also been very merciful to us. He has given us 
sufficient health to enable us to meet our official obligations so 
as to be approved by the General Conference, and we trust also 
to divine acceptance. He has also given us the great happiness 
of seeing the work of the Lord prospering in our hands. We 
have also enjoyed much of the divine presence in our journey- 
ings and labors, and great spiritual peace and comfort in 
believing. 

" You will be pleased to learn that Rev. Brothers D. W. 
Clark, Edward Thomson, and Calvin Kingsley have been 
elected and ordained bishops during this session of the Gen- 
eral Conference. You will unite with us in hailing these 
brethren welcome to the office of bishops in the Church. 

" You have learned from the official papers how greatly God 
has prospered his Church. It is certain God is still with his 
ministers and people. We are, with you, looking and praying 
for the glory of God to fill the wholo earth. 

"With Christian salutations to Sister Hamline, and com- 
mending you both to the grace of God, we remain yours fra- 
ternally in Christ Jesus our Lord, 

" T. A. Morris, E. S. Janes, 
L. Scott, M. Simpson, 

O. C. Baker, E. R. Ames." 

" The undersigned heartily concur in the foregoing expressions 
of esteem, good will, and high appreciation of your services to 



498 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



the Church. We entertain severally a grateful remembrance 
of the pleasure and profit we have derived from your ministra- 
tions, and our earnest prayer shall be that God's richest blessing 
may abide with you. " D. W. Clark, 

E. Thomson, 
C. Kingsley." 

Bishop Hamline having no further use for his seal of office 
and letter-press, sent them, as a brotherly memento, to his 
endeared colleague Bishop Janes, who thus affectionately 
acknowledges this receipt: 

"New York, November 28, 1864. 

"Rev. Bishop L. L. Hamline: Dear Brother, — Your 
letter of the twenty-seventh ultimo came to hand by due course 
of mail. Since then your letter-press has been received in 
perfect order. I am greatly obliged to you for the very useful 
gift. It was not, however, its intrinsic value that made it so 
desirable to me, but the fact of its having been possessed and 
used by yourself as one of my colleagues in the general superin- 
tendency of the Church. As mementoes, your seal and letter- 
press have great interest to me. 

" I have been making an effort to get some relics of our 
deceased bishops, and some souvenirs of our living bishops. 
I have succeeded pretty fully. I desired very much to possess 
some memento of yourself. The circumstance of our being 
elected and ordained together always gave me a peculiar regard 
for Bishop Hamline — a sort of class-mate feeling. So far as I 
am conscious, there never was the least rivalry or jealousy to 
mar our fellowship of labor or love. 

" Since we commenced our episcopal services together the 
providences of God concerning us have been diverse. You 
have been called to suffer his will, I have been called to do his 
will. Perhaps the one is about as difficult and trying as the 
other, and I judge one as important and useful as the other. I 
think living exemplifications of the sufficiency of grace for 
every human exigency, as essential as the proclaiming of the 
unsearchable riches of Christ, in building up the Church of the 
living God. 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 499 



" God has given me health to work, and a heart to work. I 
delight in his service. I thank God he has kept me, in my 
administration, from ruinous errors, and given me much favor 
with the people. He has been my wisdom and prudence and 
success. I bless his name continually. I pray God to spare 
you from suifering, and continually to cheer you with his 
presence. 

" Mrs. Janes joins me in affectionate regards to Sister Ham- 
line. I desire to be remembered to Dr. Hamline's family. 
" Yours fraternally in Jesus, E. S. Janes." 

" Mount Pleasant, October 10, 1864. 
"To Moses Brooks, Esq.: Afflicted Brother, — I have 
not for years been so anxious to write a letter as to you, my 
dear afflicted friend. I greatly desire to dwell a moment on 
the sanctified, glorified, redeemed one who just ascended 
from your presence to her God; and then on that infinitely 
glorious Redeemer who bought her and us with his blood, and 
has made her, and will soon make us, ' kings and priests unto 
God.' But my head is so distressed and confused that I must 
give up the pen to my dear wife. In such affliction I rejoice 
that you have such a home to fly to as you will find with our 
dear Brother and Sister Leavitt. Give to them the assurance 
of our undying Christian love. Please write often. Fare- 
well ! 

" Tell Brother B. that I do not expect to live to write another 
letter. This is my farewell." 

The last affectionate salutation from his brethren in the epis- 
copacy appears under date of Cleveland, Ohio, February 22, 
1865 : 

" Rev. Bishop Hamline : Dear Brother, — The under- 
signed, having learned, through Rev. Dr. Elliott, of your severe 
illness, desire to express to you our deep sympathy with you in 
your sufferings, and also our grateful joy to learn that in your 
affliction you are abundantly sustained by the grace of God, 
and cheered by a consciousness of the divine presence. We 



500 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



desire also to renew our assurances of high esteem and fraternal 
love in Christ. While thus cherishing you in our affections, we 
also remember you in our prayers, earnestly beseeching our 
heavenly Father to bestow upon you all the blessings your soul 
and circumstances may require. 

" With affectionate salutations to Sister Hamline, we remain 
your affectionate and sympathizing brethren in Christ, 

" T. A. Mobkis, E. S. Janes, 
L. Scott, M. Simpson, 

O. C. Baker, E. R Ames, 
D. W. Clark, C. Ktngsley." 

Bishop Morris writes : 

"Dear Brother and Sister Hamline, — . . . We sincerely 
sympathize with you both in your painful and protracted 
family affliction, but ' reckon that the sufferings of this present 
time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall 
be revealed in us.' We are hopeful as to the final success of 
Methodism in the world, also as to its results in our own case 
as individuals. 

" We shall write to Sister Palmer for the ' Guide ' to help us. 

" I send you a copy of my talk on the ' Spirit of Methodism.' 

" Please give our love to Dr. Elliott and family, Dr. Hamline 
and family, and accept for yourselves the prayers and Christian 
affections of yours ever, 

" T. A. Morris." 



" Sabbath Evening, January 4. 
"Dear Wipe, — Deprived of the privilege of the class, I 
hereby give you, in brief, my testimony : My sins are all par- 
doned through the blood and righteousness of my Lord Jesus 
Christ. The great work of inward purification and Christian 
edification is gloriously progressing. I feel that, living or dying, 
I am my Lord's. Press onward, my beloved, after Christ and 
heaven. Should I die soon, follow me to the grave with holy 
transports as an attendant on joyful scenes, for I go to the 'mar- 
riage supper of the Lamb,' to your God and my God. I wait 
your coming there, O may the dear children and grandchil- 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 501 

dren (how my eyes gush forth in tears as I write of them !) 
meet us there ! Ever, ever yours, and Christ's above yours." 

; And if our fellowship below 

In Jesus be so sweet, 
"What heights of rapture shall we know 

"When round his throne we meet ! ' " 

At another date he writes : "I have not recently recorded 
my joys and sorrows ; but now, knowing my end is near, and 
that I shall soon go to my blessed home, and having strength 
to write a few words for your comfort when I see you no more 
on earth, this morning I am so filled with 'joy unspeakable 
and full of glory ' that I can scarcely contain the bliss. Heaven 
is so near. I am near to God, and near to my eternal home. O 
I wish I could explain how Christ now appears ! but I can only 
say, 'Expressive silence muse his praise.' Again, *He that 
believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.' 
' The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits,' etc. 

* My guilt is washed away 

By my Eedeemer's blood, 
And by the Spirit I can say 

That I am born of God.' 

O blessed assurance ! 

" My dear wife and son, ' Behold, I ascend unto your Father 
and my Father, to your God and my God.' Glory be to the 
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ! Amen ! " 

" March 6. 

" My deak Wife, — In 1844 I did not desire the ' office of a 
bishop,' never thought of it, never connected my person and 
that office even in my wildest imagining ; but I desired then, 
as you must remember, a ' good work ;' that is, the work of saving 
souls ; and how wonderfully God endowed me with strength 
for that work in 1842 and 1843, until stricken down by disease. 
Now, this very day, I feel the burning desire, kindled by the 
Holy Spirit, to engage in that ' good work ;' but there is a dif- 
ference. Then I desired to die and go to Christ, whom I loved 
with such a glowing love, but also desired the good work, not 
the office ; but now, with the same desire to save souls, I have 



502 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



no expectation of it. Of course I am not ' in a strait,' as Paul 
was, but rny desire to depart and be with Christ is unrestrained 
by conflicting desires. I infer that my time is close at hand, 
and that I shall soon be ' absent from the body and present 
with the Lord,' so I giye you in writing a few words of affec- 
tionate advice : Procure a plain, modest monument for my 
grave, with no letters on it but the name, date of death, or the 
like. If convenient, let this be inclosed with an iron railing 
large enough for a few family graves. I would advise you to 
stay with the children. Be with them daily, and you can 
counsel and comfort and help guide their dear little ones to 
Christ. And now, finally, thanking you with a warm and 
grateful heart for your labors, patience, and prayers for me 
these twenty-eight years, gone for ever, I commend you to God 
in Christ Jesus, who is able to build us up, and I am persuaded 
will bring us to meet before his throne. His holy religion has 
been our solace and strength on earth amid many toils and 
trials, and I trust we are to be numbered with those who came 
up out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and 
made them white in the blood of the Lamb." 

September 30. — To Dr. Elliott he said, "lam not able to con- 
verse ;" but desired Dr. E. to write on a slate which he handed 
Mm. The doctor wrote, " The will of the Lord be done." The 
bishop wrote underneath, " Amen." Dr. E. wrote again, " Amen ! 
Amen!" and added, "In heaven we shall not need slate and 
pencil to converse." The bishop took the slate and added, 
11 No, nor tables, nor light, nor a temple, for the Lord God is 
the temple, and the Lamb the light thereof;" and taking up 
the Testament, turned to Rev. xxi, 22, and handed the passage 
to the doctor, saying, " Tis beautiful ! glorious ! glorious ! " 

Sunday, October 2. — Feeble as he was he read the sermon 
of Monod on the faith of the Canaanitish woman, and was 
greatly blessed. He said, u Were I forty-seven instead of sixty- 
seven years old, it seems to me I would bend all my energies to 
the subject of faith, praying, preaching, talking, and writing 
about it." 

October 4. — At evening he said, " To-morrow will be the fifth 



NEARING THE LAND BEULAH. 



503 



of October. Thirty-six years to-morrow since the Lord revealed 
himself to me the hope of glory." On the fifth, to his little 
grandson, he said, " To-day I am thirty-six years old." The 
child was puzzled, and said, " Sixty-three you mean, grandpa." 
The bishop explained in a most interesting manner. After- 
ward he said, " The Lord has sometimes wonderfully blessed 
me during the last summer," (mentioning particularly a sermon 
preached in his class-room by Rev. G. B. Jocelyn,) saying, " I 
received a great blessing under that sermon. I went up stairs 
weeping aloud and going through the chambers. I knelt 
before the Lord first in one place, and then in another, con- 
fessing and praising." He then spoke of a seasoD of suffering 
which followed. He said, " I ought to suffer and die meekly, 
patiently. How is it that he so blesses me ? " Then, after a 
pause, he said, " Thy nature and thy name is love." Then, 
slowly and solemnly, " 'Tis love, 'tis love. Thou diedst for me. 
I hear thy whisper in my heart." Dr. Elliott coming in wrote 
on the slate, " No one is so deeply indebted to grace as I am." 
The bishop replied, " Am not I more deeply indebted if grace 
enables me to be content, unable to do anything, even to read 
more than a page in a day ? I am naturally impatient in suf- 
fering, especially in inability to do anything ; but I am nothing, 
dead and twice dead, unless Christ is in me ; but I feel and 
know he is in me, that makes any state or condition tolerable, 
and even joyful." 

October 10. — He said : " How wonderful that we cannot trust 
Jesus, when we have his promise and his pledge in our hearts. 
I will trust and not be afraid, Behold, God is my salvation ! 
then how safe, how sure it is ! " 

October 11. — Spent much of the evening in speaking of the 
fullness and freeness of salvation, and often repeating such 
stanzas and parts of stanzas as — 

" Through all eternity to prove, 
Thy nature and thy name is love." 

"Didst thou not in the flesh appear, 

And live and die below, 
That I might now perceive thee near, 

And my Redeemer know ? " 



504 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Jehovah in thy person show, 
Jehovah crucified," etc. 

A volume might be filled with these outflows of his heart. 
This spirit he breathed from day to day, never murmuring or 
seeming to think for a moment that his afflictions were too 
severe ; nor did he ever indicate by word or manner that he 
desired to get rid of present or prospective suffering, but his 
desire to depart and be with Christ was often almost irre- 
pressible. 

October 16. — To Mrs. H. he said : " The weary wheels of life 
stand still. I know what that means, the weary wheels of life f* 
adding, " I feel a wonderful peace pervading my whole being. 
Christ is so near me as I cannot describe. He answers me by 
Urim and Thummim, " Light pours from his breast into mine. I 
dwell not in a world of glory, but a world of love. 

' Love how cheering is thy ray ! 
All pain before thy presence flies.' " 

After kneeling some time in silent prayer he said : " Such 
blessings are poured upon me when I kneel to pray that it 
seems as though I cannot live. 'Tis wonderful thus to live in 
a furnace. ,, 

October 27. — After suffering great pain he said : " What I 
have suffered to-day, I think, has taught me a useful lesson, 
has been very profitable. I have thought of my Saviour's suf- 
ferings as I never did before." After dwelling some time on 
this theme, he asked his wife to show him the hymn (in the old 
edition of our hymn book) which contains the stanza, 

** See how his back the scourges tear, 

"While to the bloody pillar bound ; 
The plowers make long furrows there, 

Till all his body is one wound." 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



505 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 

During the entire year 1864 the family and friends of Bishop 
Hamline observed that he failed more rapidly than before. He 
often spoke of declining strength and increasing suffering, 
especially the almost insupportable " agony" in his head. He 
was evidently nearing the heavenly world, and breathing its 
atmosphere more freely. His anticipations of its bliss became 
realizations ; his faith " the substance of things hoped for ; " 
and his joy was " unspeakable and full of glory." 

But he never lost for a moment his clear apprehension of 
the guilt and malignity of sin, or of the terribleness of human 
depravity. This, with his views of the heaven to which we 
have been redeemed, greatly deepened his impressions of the 
sufferings of the Saviour, and, in his most rapturous states, 
his halleluiahs ever mingled with expressions of, "The won- 
der why such love to me ; " and often, with convulsive weeping, 
that Christ suffered for Mm, bore his sins "in his own body 
on the tree." His prayers as well as his conversations indi- 
cated the deepening of his experience in divine things. At 
times he seemed to commune almost face to face with his 
adorable Redeemer, causing the listener to feel as in the more 
immediate presence of our Lord. In his best physical condi- 
tion he lay down at night believing that he might awake in 
eternity ; that he was ever liable to sudden death. This opin- 
ion, so often expressed by physicians eminently scientific, was 
confirmed by his own sensations. Indeed, this had been true 
since 1844. But now that strength and flesh had so nearly 
failed, he daily felt that there was but a step between him and 
death. Thus living on the verge of eternity, except seasons 
of brief but powerful temptation, he seemed to live on the 
verge of heaven. 

22 



506 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Sunday, P. M., January 22, I860. — He went to the class-room 
door and said, " I am not as happy to-day as I was last Sab- 
bath, and not as happy as the sister I heard shouting just now. 
I am not able to speak to-day, and at first thought I would not 
try. But I have had a solemn day ; was greatly affected while 
reading my morning lesson. I read where Jesus prayed, 1 Fa- 
ther, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' I thought 
he could not pray that prayer for me if I lived short of the full- 
ness of the blessing of the Gospel, and it is a solemn thought. 
Dear brethren, our blessed Lord cannot pray that prayer for 
you, if you live without his full salvation, for you know what 
you do. O brethren, get this fullness, this perfect love ! Dear 
brethren, get perfect love ! " etc. Dwelling most earnestly and 
affectingly on the believer's duty and privilege, and retiring, as 
he often did, under the apprehension that it might be his last 
opportunity to speak to the class, he said, " I would like to go 
home to-night ; O, I would like to go home to-night ! I am 
ready." This was his last effort to speak to the class. 

Wednesday, 25. — He aj^peared more comfortable than for 
some days previous, and spent the evening in repeating texts 
from the Bible, and stanzas of his -favorite hymns, and in a 
most cheerful frame retired at his usual hour and soon fell 
asleep. At twelve o'clock he awoke with a severe stricture or 
spasm of the chest, which increased until he fainted, or suffered 
something like a spasm His son, Doctor Hamline, hastened to 
bring the family physician, and the remedies employed gave 
speedy relief to his breathing ; but he continued to be extremely 
ill, though very triumphant in spirit. 

In the morning his children, Dr. Hamline and wife, coming 
in, Mrs. Hamline said, u Father, I am sorry to see you so ill 
this morning." He replied, " It is all right ; just as the Lord 
pleases. His will be done and the will of no other. His infi- 
nitely holy providence does everything right. He gave his Son 
to die for me ; that is enough to all eternity. Glory be to the 
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost ! " 

Some time after, his physician coming in, he said, " How many 
mercies the Lord has provided for me : a son who is willing to 
do anything for me ; a wife who has watched over me with the 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



507 



most affectionate and tender care ; a physician to attend me, 
and, above all, a Saviour who has redeemed me to God by his 
blood." 

He had a friend called in, and added a codicil to his will, 
and then felt that his earthly care was at an end. 

Saturday, 28. — A day of great deliverance and triumph. To 
one who expressed grief to see him so ill he said, " It does not 
matter so I am ready when He shall call ; and he will make me 
all ready, just as ready as though I had never sinned. 

' Jesus, thy blood and righteousness 
My beauty are, my glorious dress ! " 

Sunday, 29. — Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was to be ad- 
ministered at the church. He proposed that his wife receive it 
with him alone at home. He was not able to repeat the ritual ; 
but, as he lay in bed, consecrated the elements and received 
them, and gave to her. It was a season of peculiar mercy. 

Monday, 80. — Still joyful in the rock of his salvation. A 
friend, Mrs. Penn, coming in, he desired her to pray ; but said, 
" not for my recovery. I have often desired to cross over Jor- 
dan ; but His will be done. Pray that my wings be all plumed 
to fly to my Saviour." Afterward he said to her, " Struggle 
on, struggle on ! work for your Saviour ; try continually to do 
something for him, to draw sinners to him and believers to the 
living fountain. O, if there could be tears in heaven we 
should weep there that we have not done more for him." 

During several days he lay much in the same frame of mind, 
sending messages of love to his friends, such as, "Tell Brother 
Pickett " (pastor of the Congregational Church) " that I am not 
able to talk with him, but I hope to spend eternity with him." 
To Mr. Gunn, (pastor of the Baptist Church,) " I cannot talk 
to-day ; but this hymn is my experience," pointing to the hymn 
commencing, 

" Thou hidden source of calm repose." 

To Brother W., one of our stationed preachers, " O Brother W., 
preach Christ crucified, Christ risen, Christ glorified. Glory be 
to God in the highest." To Brother T., "I have such views of 



508 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



Christ that I cannot tell them ; such visions of Christ." To 
another, " I am ready to go any moment when he shall call me. 

' Jesus, Redeemer, Saviour, Lord ! ' " 

Adding, "His name salvation is ; " "His name is mighty — Al- 
mighty." And yet again, " Jesus, precious Jesus ! " 

" Inured to poverty and pain, 
A suffering life my Master led." 

And then, bursting into tears, he referred to the garden of 
Gethsemane, and said : " The Redeemer in his terrible agony, 
as if he could not be left alone, said to his disciples, ' Tarry ye 
here and watch,' " with much more in the same spirit. And 
again, " Here I lie, sick and willing to be sick. Perhaps going 
to die, and willing to die. What peace ! " To another, " If I 
should not see you again on earth, I trust we shall meet in the 
presence of his Father and our Father, his God and our God. 
You know I did not wish you to pray for my life ; I am will- 
ing to die ; I am not afraid to meet my Saviour who bought 
me with his blood, and gloriously redeemed me, near forty 
years ago, when I was lost." 

Some time after, weeping, he repeated the stanza, 

" Jesus protects ; my fears, "begone : 
What can the Eock of Ages move ? 

Safe in thy arms I lay me down, 
Thine everlasting arms of love." 

He often dwelt affectingly on the sufferings of Christ for him. 
He once said, " We cannot tell whether he suffered most in the 
garden or on the cross. But the cry, ' My God ! my God ! 
why hasfthou forsaken me ? ' would seem to imply that he suf- 
fered most on the cross." At another time, to Rev. Mr. G. he 
said, "We must be sick and suffer; it is our Father's disci- 
pline ; but we do not suffer as our Saviour did for us ; " and 
again dwelt affectingly on the sufferings of Christ for him. To 
one, " You know I did not wish you to pray for my life. It is 
written, 1 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my 
salvation.' I am perfectly satisfied with life, and I trust he will 
show me his salvation." As Mr. G. was leaving, he again ex- 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



509 



pressed the hope that they should " meet in heaven." There 
Was a solemnity in his manner during this illness which made 
his attendants feel as though on the confines of eternity. 
And no attempted transcript of his language can give any ade- 
quate idea of its depth of meaning. 

The intense sensibility of his brain had long almost precluded 
the possibility of conversing with him. He could much more 
easily speak than hear, the sound of the human voice causing 
him great pain, and producing, he said, a sensation like boring 
with an augur into his brain. For months, nearly all commu- 
nications to him were made by writing on a slate, which was 
kept ready for that purpose. To this it is owing that so few 
inquiries were made respecting his state, so that his remarks 
were spontaneous, the gushings forth of his heart, which seemed 
an overflowing fountain of love to God and his people. Amid 
all his sufferings he was ever mindful of those who ministered 
to his wants, by suggestions attending to their little comforts, 
fearful of giving unnecessary trouble and grateful for the small- 
est service rendered him. Nor did he forget the interests of 
the Church, inquiring every day about the success of the pro- 
tracted meetings in the city, and rejoicing to hear that souls 
were being saved. 

The affairs of the country also engaged his daily attention. 
He was delighted to learn that the Southern Commissioners had 
not secured an armistice. " There will be no armistice," he 
said, " for God has taken the work into his own hands." 

During a season of extreme suffering, in which he thought 
himself dying, he repeated again and again, " Jesus, O Jesus, 
come quickly," etc. A little after he exclaimed, "How he 
blesses me ! Glory ! glory ! glory ! " To his dear son he said, 
(among other things,) " We are created for such a great pur- 
pose, and we spend our time in such trifles, trifles." He 
attempted to repeat the fifty-third chapter of Isaiah, and said, 
" He had no form nor comeliness to our blind eyes ; but he has 
opened our eyes, and now he is the fairest among ten thousand ; 
yea, he is altogether lovely. O Lamb of God, we cling to thy 
cross in life and in death. Behold, God is my salvation, I will 
trust and not be afraid. The Lord Jehovah is my strength and 



510 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



my song. He also is become my salvation. O Lamb of God 
that taketk away my sins, the sins of the world ! Glory be to 
thee, O Lord Most High, for ever and ever ! " 

In the afternoon he was again supposed to be dying. His 
family gathered around the bed for the parting scene and to 
catch the last word. He exclaimed, " O agony, agony unspeak- 
able, but not so great as Thou didst endure for my sins." He 
repeated various instructions before given to his family. Ad- 
dressing himself with earnest affection to his son, saying, " I 
would rather have one day of communion with my Saviour, 
than all the wealth of the world with a thousand years to enjoy 
it ; yes, one hour of communion with him, that is real happi- 
ness ; " and closed by saying, " These are the last words I expect 
to speak to you on earth." He then broke out in prayer for 
his dear children, and for his little grandchildren, that " God 
would sanctify them in the beauty of their infancy ; " for his 
wife ; for their faithful Ellen, so long an inmate of the family ; 
for all friends, specifying several, and all enemies; for the 
Church, especially his own Conference, the Ohio ; for the coun- 
try, the heathen, the world, and closed, " O my Saviour ! my 
precious Saviour ! Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and 
to the Holy Ghost ! Glory and honor forever ! Amen." For 
several hours he lay bathed in cold perspiration, (apparently 
the sweat of death,) a part of the time quite pulseless. He 
repeated, " O Jesus, come quickly ! I am in great agony, un- 
speakable agony ; but I will try to be patient. His will be 
done ; " and looking up toward heaven, " Thy will be done." 
Again, " My Saviour is gloriously with me now." But his hour 
had not yet come and he revived. 

That evening a consulting physician sat by him a consider- 
able time, and he improved the occasion by rehearsing some 
conversations with others, thus, indirectly, placing before him 
the value of religion, and the importance of a preparation for 
death. On another occasion, when suffering much, he said, 
" But Jesus has done all things well. O that my children and 
grandchildren might understand this in all its depth of 
meaning ! " 

On his wife's raising the window-shade at sunset he exclaimed, 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



511 



" O beautiful sky ! beautiful heaven ! My dear, we have a 
Father there. "We have an elder Brother there. When I get 
there how I will praise him, and with what interest will I 
await your corning ! O how I want to go up, up, up there to 
his bosom of love ! " And then he gave glory, glory, glory to 
God again. 

To the watcher he said, " I smTer, but His will be done ; His 
holy will be done. I have a night of agony, but it is all right. 

' If my Eedeemer shows his head, 
'Tis morning with my soul.' " 

On the morning of February 10th he said, " Call in the family, 
I want to pray with them once more.'' And then, O such a 
prayer! Such expressions of adoration of the Saviour on the 
throne, in his humiliation, crucifixion, resurrection, ascension, 
exaltation ! Such prayer for the Church, the missions, etc. ! 
And such praise to the Ever Blessed as no pen can record. 
Those present could not conceive of language more solemnly 
sublime had his disembodied spirit been actually bowing be- 
fore the throne. He drank, and his painful thirst reminding 
him of the exclamation on the cross, " I thirst," he burst into 
tears, and then again broke out into praise to the ever blessed 
God. He spoke of his state as " a fresh baptism into Christ," 
into " his glorious name," and exclaimed, " O wondrous, won- 
drous, wondrous LOVE ! " He spoke of the folly of any 
one's wishing to live a month or a year in order to seek God 
by prayer, etc., and said, " I realize that 

' Could my tears for ever flow, 
Could my zeal no languor know, 
These for sin could ne'er atone, 
Thou must save, and thou alone. 
In my hand no price I bring, 
Simply to the cross I cling ; ' 

Yes, to the cross. 

' This all my hope, and all my plea, 
For me the Saviour died.' 

And O how glorious this plea, how sufficient ! " 

Saturday, February 12. — During the night he suffered in- 



512 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



tensely ; thought himself probably dying, but often said, " Jesus, 
Jesus, O Jesus, come quickly ! " Toward morning he repeated, 

"Jesus, thou everlasting king, 
Accept the praises which we bring." 

And, " O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, 
hear my prayer." 

13. Sabbath morning. — At half past five he said to the 
watcher: "I have been this holy Sabbath morning with the 
Marys at the sepulchre, yes, the Marys. When the disciples, 
and even John, the beloved disciple, and who loved so much, 
were probably not yet awake, the Marys were there. And O 
how many Marys we have ! " u I have been very happy since 
midnight. The other day I went with Peter and James and 
John to the garden, while the Saviour went a little further, as 
it were a stone's cast, and bowed to the ground in an agony, 
saying, 'Father, if it be possible let this cup pass from me.' 
And all this for me. Coming to his disciples, they were all 
asleep ; none to help him bear his great burden. As if I were in 
some terrible condition and cried out to you, O help me ! help 
me ! and you did not or could not. But this morning I have 
been with the Marys." "I would give much if I could now 
hear you read that chapter, ' And early in the morning on the 
first day of the week,' etc., but I cannot. When I was first 
taken sick, Mrs. Hamline used to put up a pillow, and my 
Bible and hymn book on it, and I could read a little, but now 
I cannot ; the words all run together, all in a cloud. Yet I can 
feast on what I have committed to memory. Glory be to 
Jesus ! blessed J esus ! But I am talking too much." After an 
interval of a few moments he repeated, 

" Sweet is the day of sacred rest, 
No mortal care shall seize my breast ; 
O may my heart in tune be found, 
Like David's harp of solemn sound ! " 

And again, 

" This heavenly calm within my breast, 
Is the dear pledge of endless rest, . 
Which for the Church of God remains, 
The end of cares, the end of pains." 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



513 



" I have thought of my Saviour's sufferings as I never did be- 
fore." Later in the morning he requested Mrs. H. to turn to 
this stanza in the old edition of the hymn book, 

" See how his back the scourges tear, 

While to the bloody pillar bound ; 
The plowers make long furrows there, 

Till all his body is one wound." 

In the afternoon of that day Dr. Elliott administered to him 
the sacrament of the Lord's Supper. This ordinance had long 
been a precious means of grace to him, and on this occasion he 
enjoyed it exceedingly ; he wept and rejoiced with great joy. 

Monday morning. — Kev. Mr. Pickett, Congregational minister, 
called. To him he related some of the experiences of the few 
days past. He said, among other things, " I never felt such a 
love for sinners as I do now ; I feel as though I could get down 
on my knees at the feet of the vilest blasphemer, and beseech 
him to receive Christ." Mr. Pickett said : " Never shall I for- 
get his last injunction to me, ' O, brother, preach to the con- 
sciences of men ; impress them with the terrible consequences 
of sin.' " 

He kept his large print Testament and hymn book on his 
bed, whenever he could look into them at all, so placed that he 
could occasionally read a text or a stanza. He had from the 
time of his conversion set a very high estimate upon our hymns, 
using them next to the Bible as helps to devotion. The 437th 
hymn, commencing — 

"Now I have found the ground wherein," 
he often repeated, particularly the third stanza, 

" love, thou bottomless abyss 1 

My sins are swallowed up in thee ; 
Covered is my unrighteousness, 

Nor spot of guilt remains on me : 
"While Jesus' blood, through earth and skies, 
Mercy, free, boundless mercy, cries." 

Repeating again and again, " By faith I plunge me in this sea." 

The excellent hymn of John Wesley, commencing "Jesus, 
thy blood and righteousness," was one of his favorites. And 
that of Cowper, commencing " There is a fountain filled with 

22* 



514 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



blood," and that of Toplady, "Rock of ages, cleft for me," 
had been sung for him scores of times during his confinement, 
and now they were in daily requisition, though he could sel- 
dom endure the voice of song. While in health he often re- 
ferred to the dissensions of Christians on earth, especially to 
the bitter language of that great and good man, Toplady, in 
reference to Wesley, and to the fact that in their hymns they 
expressed the same sentiments, Toplady even saying, 

" The grace that saves from future hell 
Can save from present sin." 

And he seemed transported with the thought, that in heaven 
their fellowships were unalloyed. "With what rapture," he 
said, " do they now walk together along the banks of the river 
of life, and join the same eternal chorus." 

At one time he asked for the hymn book and tried to sing ; 
he stopped often and wept, and then, gathering strength to 
proceed, he praised his Saviour with many tears. 

His partial convalescence was entirely unexpected to himself 
and to his friends. Yet when he had so far recovered as to 
walk about his room and those adjoining, and, when the day 
was fine, even to walk a few steps into the open air, his family 
began to feel that he might be spared a few months at 
least. They saw that he was extremely feeble, and that a 
breath of air too cool brought on his terrible paroxysms of 
suffering. The frequent recurrence of these, with so great 
feebleness, supplied daily admonition that he could not long 
survive, yet they hoped that the settled warm weather of ap- 
proaching summer would afford relief; and while he spoke, 
almost every waking hour, of his approaching departure, they 
replied, " You may remain with us yet another year." Thus, in 
a measure, they were thrown off their guard in view of the 
near approach of death. 

His few remaining weeks on earth may be summed up thus : 
His conversation was in heaven ; he lay down every night ex- 
pecting to wake in eternity, and was rather surprised to find 
himself in the morning still an inhabitant of the pained and 
weary body. As had been his life-long habit, he rose early 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 515 

every morning, and, with assistance, attired himself for the 
day, and stepped to his sitting room; and when his condi- 
tion would permit him to kneel, spent some time on his knees 
before his lounge, on which he died ; then placed his Testa- 
ment and hymn book on a chair beside him for use through 
the day. 

When able to see any one, his few words ever indicated his 
simple trust in Christ. For example, to one he said, " I cannot 
talk," and raising his hymn book and pointing to the hymn 
commencing, 

" Thou hidden Source of calm repose, 

Thou all-sufficient Love divine, 
My help and refuge from my foes, 

Secure I am while thou art mine : 
And lo ! from sin, and grief, and shame, 
I hide me, Jesus, in thy name. 

" Thy mighty name salvation is, 

And keeps my happy soul above : 
Comfort it brings, and power, and peace, 

And joy, and everlasting love ; 
To me, with thy great name, are given 
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven." 

Saying, " That is my experience to-day." 

On the margin of that wonderful hymn he had written in pen- 
cil, "What more can I need?" On the margin of the 644th 
hymn he had written, " How precious is this hymn to my soul 
to-day — February 18, 1865." And beside the closing stanza — 

" The thanks I owe thee, and the love, 

A boundless, endless store, 
Shall echo through the realms above 

When time shall be no more." 

He had written, " Yes, when time shall be no more." 

From the commencement of his illness in January he appears 
to have had but one severe conflict with the powers of dark- 
ness. This occurred Saturday, March 11. The onset was fear- 
ful, and he struggled mightily for several hours ; nor was his 
victory complete until the afternoon of the following day, Sab- 
bath, 12th. In the effort to help his faith Mrs. Hamline repeated 
to him, 



516 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



" Just as I am, without one plea, 
Save that thy blood was shed for me, 
And that thou bidd'stme come to thee, 
Lamb of God, I come." 

For the time he seemed to have forgotten that stanza. But 
while Mrs. Hamline was in class that afternoon he wrote it on 
the fly-leaf of his hymn book, with the following original lines 
subjoined : 

" Held back by sin, and guilt, and shame, 
Yet trusting in thy blood and name, 
And in thy Word, (though halt and lame,) 
O Lamb of God, I come ! " 

Sunday, March 12." At the close of the class, as Mrs. L. en- 
tered his room, he raised his hand and exclaimed, " O Sister 
Lee, pardon, purity, heaven ! " His victoiy was complete, which, 
so far as could be observed, he retained till the last. 

It would be vain to attempt to record one in many of his ex- 
pressions of joyful trust in his Redeemer even after this date. 
As a sample, a friend who chanced to step in about a week be- 
fore his death notes the following : "After dwelling some time 
on the prodigal son, one of his favorite themes of meditation, 
in which he ever depicted himself as the returned prodigal, 
causing the whole scene to pass vividly before the listener, he 
proceeded in the following strain : 

" ' I do not want one thought that is not fit for heaven. I 
have of late thought much of that; and when any wrong 
thought comes into my mind, I say, " That is not fit for heaven," 
till I get rid of it. If property or business occasions a wrong 
thought, I think at once, How would that look in heaven ? If 
I see one passing the street who causes a wrong thought, I 
think, How would that look in heaven ? Jesus is able to give 
us victory over our hearts. O wonderful! wonderful! He 
came to seek and to save those that were lost. He goes out 
and seeks them ; hunts them up and saves them. Just think 
of it — out seeking those that are wandering off, and bringing 
them back. He is represented as a shepherd seeking his sheep 
to bring them into the fold. Look at him wandering through 
the mountains alone, seeking everywhere the lost sheep ; and 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 



517 



when he finds one weak and weary, he does not drive it be- 
fore him; no, he takes it up carefully and lays it on his 
shoulder, rejoicing more over the one that was lost than over 
the ninety and nine that did not go astray. I know this to 
be true.' " 

Friday, 17. — At evening he said to Mrs. Hamline, " I must 
leave you alone — at table. In the New Jerusalem we shall 
never be alone, shall we ? " 

The Monday preceding his death his son went to Chicago to 
attend to some business for him, and was to return the following 
Saturday. The journey had been delayed several weeks in the 
hope that his health might improve. The doctor said that on 
"Wednesday night so strong an impression was made on his 
mind that he was needed at home, that he left his business un- 
finished, hastened to the depot at midnight, and reached home 
the next day, a short time after his father had gone. That day, 
Wednesday, 22d, the bishop attended to some business writing, 
his son being absent, himself filling up a blank deed. At even- 
ing he suffered severely ; but the family physician gave him 
some medicine which afforded relief, and he rested most pleas- 
antly during the night, and rose as usual in the morning. At 
family worship Mrs. Hamline read the four first verses of third 
chapter of Colossians, after which he offered a short prayer, 
(reading and prayer being all his head could bear,) and 
took his accustomed light breakfast, after which the dis- 
tress, or, as he said, " agony " in his chest came on and lasted 
an hour or more, during which Dr. Elliott came in. Being un- 
able to speak without great pain, Dr. Elliott says, " he shook 
hands with me as aforetime, and, with heaven in his counte- 
nance, pointed triumphantly upward with his right hand." 
After this the suffering passed away, and he seemed as comfort- 
able as at any time during the preceding two months. Ho 
walked slowly to the gate fronting the house, and returned 
without any return of suffering. 

At one o'clock he took dinner with the family in the dining- 
room, which he had seldom done since his attack in January. 
During the dinner hour he sent a messenger to the bank with 
some little business, arranging the papers as he handed them 



518 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



over, after which he returned to his lounge. Very soon he 
said, " That pain is coming back, and I do not see how I can 
live through another such spell as I had this morning." The 
business commenced a few moments before had to be closed 
up. He received the papers from the hand of the returned 
messenger, and gave them to Mrs. Hamline, saying, " I can- 
not attend to that now. If I live till to-morrow I will at- 
tend to it." 

His agony increased rapidly, the perspiration streaming from 
his face. A messenger was dispatched with all possible haste 
for the family physician, and very soon another, who ran to 
bring the first physician he could find. He often exclaimed : 
" O agony unspeakable ! I never knew what pain was before ! " 
He could not keep one position a moment ; but extending his 
hands for aid several times, rose and stepped a few steps, and then 
sank back again to the lounge. He said, "Pray that I may be 
relieved." Two short, earnest prayers were offered for his relief. 
"When a third commenced, he said pleasantly, " There, now," 
it being all the voice he could endure. During all this time 
he was perfectly calm in mind and collected. Remembering 
the feebleness of Mrs. Hamline, he said to her, " Sit down, they 
will do all I need ; " and when she extended her hand to help 
him rise, " No," he said, " let them help me." At length he 
exclaimed, a glow spreading over his agonized features, " O, 
children, this is wonderful suffering ; but it is nothing to what 
my Saviour endured on the cross for me." This was his last 
effort to speak. He had said a little before, " I feel the pain 
approaching my heart ; " and now the agony, which exceeded 
in intensity anything the beholders ever witnessed, had reached 
its climax in the spasm of the heart. When the doctor arrived 
consciousness was apparently gone, and a few brief moments 
closed the scene. 

O with what anguish of spirit did all present look upon that 
scene of suffering, conscious of our utter helplessness to afford 
the least relief, or to retain that passing spirit for a single 
moment. 

When he lay dressed for the grave, the friends who visited 
the remains exclaimed, " What a picture of rest ! " And when, 



LAST ILLNESS AND DEATH. 519 



as the casket was to be closed, the last look was taken, all felt 
indeed, " What a picture of rest ! " the noble features having 
settled more and more, till the whole countenance looked rather 
like devotion than death. This was so peculiarly true that 
Mrs. Hamline said to one present, " I cannot realize that that 
is death." Anticipating what would follow from such a 
doubt, the friend quickly responded, " But we know that it 
is death." 

The twenty-sixth day of March was a day of great solemnity 
in the city of Mount Pleasant — a day that will long be remem- 
bered. The badge of mourning was hanging from the doors 
of Asbury Chapel for the third day, when the crowd around the 
church door and in the vestibule made way, and the casket 
which contained the precious remains of Bishop Hamline wa3 
carried in by eight clergymen, and placed before the pulpit, 
which was draped heavily in mourning. The Episcopal minis- 
ter of the city, and Dr. Elliott, Kevs. Z. H. Coston, T. Corkhill, 
A. C. Williams, and H. M. Thomas, occupied the pulpit, the 
four latter taking part in the services. 

Dr. Elliott gave a moving and excellent discourse from the 
text, " Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright ; for the 
end of that man is peace." Psalm xxxvii, 37. We need not 
say that his voice faltered as he alluded to his dear and long- 
loved friend ; and the quotations that were read from the diary 
of the departed were an impressive sermon to the living in 
favor of our holy religion. 

The college students formed in procession, and walked from 
the college to the church under the sound of their tolling bell ; 
while the church-bells of other denominations joined in the 
funeral knell. The students rilled the gallery. When the 
services were over at the church, the congregation repaired 
to the grounds joining the residence of the bishop. Several 
carriages, containing the family and family friends, followed 
the hearse; then on foot came a procession preceded by 
ministers, several of whom were pastors of sister Churches 
in the city. 

After they entered the gate before the dwelling, the officiat- 
ing minister "meeting the corpse and going before it," 



520 LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLI2CE. 



read in a clear voice, "I am the resurrection, and the life; 
he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he 
live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never 
die, 1 ' etc. 

In the temporary grave was lowered the remains of the long- 
honored and loved Bishop Hamline. As the earth fell heavily 
upon the coffin-lid the voice of the minister sounded forth, 
" Dust to dust, ashes to ashes." "With the benediction closed 
the solemn funeral service. 

Then the bereaved widow, in her feebleness leaning on her 
son's arm, Mrs. Dr. Hamline with her brother, followed by 
the little grandchildren, entered the door of their desolated 
dwelling. 

Three o'clock in the afternoon was the usual hour for class, 
an hour that the bishop loved, and always felt grieved if any 
thing, even a funeral, that could take place at any other time, 
interfered with the class. Mrs. Hamline could not think of hav- 
ing the regular Sabbath meeting in their dwelling omitted his 
first Sabbath in heaven. 

At this hour several ministers, and between thirty and forty 
private members, were present. Mrs. Hamline, though feeling 
so deeply, was enabled to remain in the class and speak. 

It was an affecting meeting. It seemed that nearly every one 
had received some word of encouragement from the bishop, 
which was now brought to remembrance. One local preacher 
said, " If any one ought to mourn for Bishop Hamline it is I." 
Then he gave a very touching little history of the bishop's good 
deeds shown toward him when he was a stranger, when he was 
sick, etc. The same brother, when gazing upon the face of the 
dead the night before, said, " O, if I could, how gladly would I 
exchange places with Bishop Hamline ! " We are not permit- 
ted to bring the great and good back to earth, but we can go 
to them. This brother has gone; in one week he joined his 
friend in heaven. 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 521 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 

Several honored and devoted friends have furnished precious 
memorials of the departed Bishop Hamline, which we take 
pleasure in presenting to our readers. 

BY REV. CHARLES ELLIOTT, D.D. 

To mention the name of this holy and talented man brings to 
my mind many pleasing associations of past years. When I 
attended the General Conference in Cincinnati, May, 1836, I 
boarded in the same house where he then boarded, and at his 
request, although I previously had no personal acquaintance 
with him. At that conference I was elected editor of the West- 
ern Advocate. Shortly after, my colleague, the Rev. William 
Phillips, died, and Mr. Hamline, at the ensuing Ohio Conference, 
was elected to be my associate editor. For four years we were 
joint editors of the Western Christian Advocate. In 1840 he 
took charge of the Ladies' Repository, while I remained at the 
Advocate. During these eight years of editorial life we sat in 
the same office or adjoining rooms, and we had daily brief con- 
versations on such topics as came up before us in the Church 
and world. Our respective families had the same intimate 
associations as the editors. After his election as bishop, wher- 
ever there was an opportunity of interview, we retained and 
cultivated the former intimacies. In 1857 our former Christian 
alliances were renewed by both of us making our final homes 
in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. There our daily short interviews 
were renewed. During my expatriation in St. Louis, from May 
1860 to May 1864, when I visited my home in Mount Pleasant, 
about once in three or four months, our daily chats were re- 
newed during the short visits of two or three days at a time. 

During the last few years, as it was uncertain how soon the 
Master would call him, it was agreed that I should officiate 



522 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



over his remains. This painful duty was performed on the 
occasion of his death. And now, on reviewing the long period 
of our intimate acquaintance, from 1836 to 1865, twenty-nine 
years, each succeeding year only binds us the more closely to- 
gether. But my pen is wholly incompetent to draw out in its 
full extent an adequate portrait of his high and holy character, 
whether it regards his natural talents or his extensive attain- 
ments, but especially the sanctity and purity of his religious life 
in theory, experience, and practical utility. He enjoyed, to the 
full extent, entire sanctification in all its experience and practical 
exemplifications. He was thoroughly scriptural and Wesleyan 
in all respects on this fundamental point. So clearly did he ex- 
pound it to others in conversation, preaching, and writing, that 
many were led to experience it through his teaching and prayers. 

While he was thoroughly Wesleyan and scriptural in this 
way of holiness, he was instrumental in teaching its great 
truths to ministers of other churches. Many of them, Presby- 
terians, Baptists, and Episcopalians, were brought to the full 
enjoyment of this privilege of the sons of God through his in- 
structions and prayers. His powers of conversation were of the 
highest order, and any one conversing with him soon found 
that they were in conversation with no ordinary personage. 
As a preacher he was in the first rank in all respects that regard 
the finished pulpit orator. His style as a writer would compare 
advantageously with the best writers in the English language. 
As a debater, when driven into this arena, he had no superior 
for logic, argument, or oratory. Witness his overwhelming 
and decisive speech in the General Conference of 1844, in oppo- 
sition to the magisterial claims of the Southern preachers. His 
liberality in distribution of his temporal means was profuse to a 
fault. In 1854 he gave half his entire living to two colleges 
west of the Mississippi After having distributed half of his all 
to literary institutions, to the Iowa Wesleyan University he was 
liberal beyond his remaining means, planning and contributing 
to the last for its maintenance. In all public charities he took 
a discriminating and liberal part. He was sparing in outlays 
on himself and family, and yet he maintained all the proprieties 
of his situation in the Church and in the world. 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



523 



He was the subject of much bodily affliction, and yet amid 
excruciating pains lie retained the full exercise of his intellectual 
powers to the very last hour of his life. The leading character- 
istic of him in his sufferings was, his complete patience and 
resignation to the will of God. In regard to him it might be 
truly said, " Behold the patience of the saints." On contemplat- 
ing his religious life, and on reading portions of his private diary, 
I was reminded of that wonderful passage of Scripture, " The 
length and breadth and depth and heighth of the love of God." 

The foregoing is a defective survey of the character of my 
dear friend, Rev. Bishop Hamline, D. D. 

Iowa "Wesleyan University, September 12, 1865. 

BY KEV. JESSE T. PECK, D.D. 

Leonidas L. Hamline was calm and quiet in the great Gen- 
eral Conference of 1844. I saw him every day, but did not 
Tcnow him. He was regularly in his seat ; and occasionally, at- 
tracted by the soft music of his voice, one would pause to look 
at his symmetrical, benevolent, and expressive features, and find 
himself saying, " What a splendid man ! " 

In the midst of the great debate he rose and addressed the 
Chair. He was promptly recognized; and from the first sen- 
tence it was evident that the question, so involved and far- 
reaching, was in the hands of a master. His positions were 
logically perfect, without a word to spare, and yet, hi rhetoric 
and oratory, as fine as if intended for popular entertainment. 
The tones of his voice were new to many of us, and they were 
actually enchanting. All noise in the vast assemblage ceased ; 
and he seemed as if alone with God, uttering thoughts and 
arguments of inspiration. " True, true, every word of it true," 
we would say, without speaking, (no one would have dared to 
speak or move;) "conclusive, splendid, demonstrative, irre- 
sistible ! " 

The last sentence was finished ; the speaker quietly resumed 
his seat ; a thousand people drew a long breath ; and the great 
issue was logically settled. 

Leonidas L. Hamline was a bishop. His great speech had 
added enough to his high standing as a minister and a man to 



524 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



secure his election. All could see that the clearness of his in- 
tellect, the meekness and humility of his bearing, and the grace 
of his movements, fitted him for high official rank, and prom- 
ised extraordinary executive ability. 

We were disappointed in but one thing. His deep and glow- 
ing piety, his ardent breathing after God, the exalted standard 
of holiness which he maintained always and everywhere, ex- 
ceeded our thoughts, and made trifling in his presence almost 
impossible. Some did not hesitate to show that they were 
under painful restraint when he was in the chair ; but to many 
others the whole conference room glowed with the light and 
glory of God. 

As a presiding officer he seemed almost a perfect model from 
the first. His knowledge of Methodist law and order seemed 
to be intuitive. His judgments were quick and clear, his deci- 
sions prompt and accurate, and his dispatch was perfect ease. 

In the pulpit Bishop Hamline was greater than himself. He 
rose with the inspiration of the hour into a sphere of thought 
and impassioned eloquence which held his vast audiences spell- 
bound. His gifts of oratory, including attitude, voice, and ex- 
pression, were rendered more extraordinary by the deep pathos 
of love, and the unction of the Holy Ghost, which fell upon 
him afresh in almost every sermon. The pride of his denomi- 
nation, the curiosity of strangers, and the spirit of criticism, 
were all subdued and lost amid the general feeling that we 
were listening to a message from God. He was, unquestion- 
ably, one of the greatest pulpit orators of his times, and you 
went away from the scene of his masterly efforts loathing your 
inward corruptions and panting for holiness. 

His social life was not ordinary. He was my guest at his 
first conference after his consecration to the episcopal office; 
and during that week I learned, as I never knew before, what 
was meant by the spirit of prayer ; " by the high commands, 
u Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, and in every thing 
give thanks ; " and " whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye 
do, do all to the glory of God." His life was the only com- 
mentary which ever enabled me to rise to a full apprehension 
of the meaning of these strange words. 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



525 



He had been the representative of his Master in carrying out 
and enforcing the " great commission," and in the sphere of a 
man in suffering and exaltation. He had been used as an in- 
strument to make clear as demonstration our fundamental eccle- 
siastical position, that the episcopacy is an office, and not an 
order ; that a bishop could be removed without impeachment 
for real disqualifications, and do him no wrong ; and at length 
he was to show that both office and rank could be laid aside, 
with no infraction of the constitution of the Church, no dis- 
turbance of her order or efficiency. When he thought, in the 
loss of his health, Providence clearly indicated it, he resigned 
his office, and, by his own act, ceased to be a bishop ; the only 
instance in the annals of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but 
enough to establish a precedent which will never be lost, and 
fix for ever the status of Methodist episcopacy. 

The pure, the great, the splendid spirit of Bishop Hamline is 
glorified. He " rests from his labors, and his works do follow 
him." He shines in the galaxy of the moral heavens with the 
sainted John and the seraphic Fletcher. 

BY KEV. F. G. HIBBARD, D.D. 

No man ever commanded more of my heart's tribute of love, 
respect, confidence, and in a good sense, I may add, admira- 
tion, than Bishop Hamline. I first knew him personally at the 
General Conference at New York in 1844. I shall never forget 
the moment, on the twenty-seventh morning of the session, that 
great, perplexing question which finally divided the Church, 
having been already five days under discussion, when Brother 
Hamline arose to speak. His former reputation in the legal 
profession, as an advocate, and the known qualities of his mind, 
and his Christian character, all bespoke for him attention, 
which every succeeding sentence of his speech riveted with new 
intensity. His modesty, his manner, his clear logical order, his 
terse and simple language, his apt analogies and illustrations, 
the transparency which his legal knowledge gave to all his 
arguments, and the precision of his judgments, all marked him . 
before the conference as a man of singular power and felicity 
in debate, while his Christian urbanity and meekness appeared 



526 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



even yet more conspicuous. Strangers to him, like myself, no 
less than friends, " took knowledge of him that he had been 
with Jesus." I heard many say, " That speech will secure his 
election to the episcopacy f an honor which, though he sought 
it not, and accepted it only as a cross, he received eleven days 
afterward. First impressions are generally lasting. The idea 
of Bishop Hamline I then received has only expanded by sub- 
sequent acquaintance; and my anticipations were more than 
realized by what has become to me one of the dearest and 
most precious portions of my social Christian life. 

Three sessions of our conference (the East Genesee) were 
favored with his presence and official administration. It is not 
too much to say that no president of an annual conference ever 
swayed such a body with a more perfect, and at the same time 
a more purely religious, even devotional, power than he. His 
manner was not mandatory and austere, but entreative and 
hortatory. If to a worldly and superficial mind he at any time 
appeared reserved and unapproachable, it was only by an 
erroneous construction upon his marked solemnity, blended 
with the natural dignity of his person. When engaged in 
conversation or business he was always affable, sincere, earnest, 
and frank ; and humility and a breathing desire for the good of 
all characterized his every act. One could not sit in his pres- 
ence without a degree of conscious awe, arising from a sense 
that God was there. An annual conference would not feel like 
breaking over the limits which his own example and spirit 
insensibly fixed as the bounds of Christian propriety ; and if at 
any time, by a momentary burst of incautious levity, or by in- 
advertently following too far or too eagerly the secular line of 
business, the mind was drawn oS from Christ, or betrayed out 
of its devotional frame, he would gently lift his hand, and 
with a tenderness more powerful than authority, would say, 
"Brethren, pray. Lift up your hearts to God. O for the 
coming of the Holy Ghost ! " Sometimes a sentence or two 
would be added in the same strain, while a thrill would go 
through the conference, and, as if by a divine magic, the spirit 
of the body would be changed, the mind regain its watchful- 
ness, and a general " Amen ! " would sanction and accept all he 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



527 



had said. In such a spirit business would be likely to receive 
attention without injury, nay, with spiritual profit to the soul. 
For one, I never tired of watching his movements and being where 
he was, nor ever ceased to thank God for the aid his example 
afforded me in keeping my own spirit, amid the distracting 
claims of business and socialities in an annual conference. 

His abode at my house during one short week of the session 
of our conference in 1847 was a blessing to my family we shall 
never forget. His private social life, like his public and official, 
was moulded by that same great formative power of grace 
which gave him character everywhere and in all things. For 
miscellaneous and aimless conversation he had no taste, and 
from it he seemed restrained by the higher laws of conscience ; 
yet any matters, however trivial in themselves, which had any 
practical relations, or stood in any appreciable connection with 
the general welfare, and especially the spiritual profit of those 
around him, he seemed always ready to entertain to the limit 
of their proper claim. His manner was always condescending, 
graceful, and free, observant of all the lesser proprieties with 
remarkable yet spontaneous discrimination ; and with a dignity 
which was inherent in the structure of his mind, and the benev- 
olent spirit of his religion, he could yet rivet the attention 
even of a little child ; but it was apparent to all, that whether 
presiding over a conference, standing in the sacred desk, or 
sitting in the family circle, his mind was intent alike upon the 
one great object of his life — to save souls. He never for a 
moment lost sight of this. It was not a professional care which 
was put on for given occasions, much less was it an affectation 
of piety, but was the chief element of his renewed nature, the 
genius of his whole character and Christian life, growing 
directly out of his communion with God, and the realizations 
of his faith as to the nearness of eternity, the shortness of time, 
the excellence of redemption, and the unspeakable worth of 
the soul. It was this, most of all, that impressed one that his 
solemnity had cause, and his earnestness resulted from seeing 
what others failed to see. If the conversation at any time 
happened to take an unprofitable turn, and the minds of the 
company were becoming dissipated, so that his usual skill in 



528 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



calling back the thoughts to more edifying topics failed, I have 
known him gently to interfere, and by a brief prologue turn 
the mind to higher themes, bring Christ and the preciousness 
of his salvation before them, and then propose a brief season of 
prayer. I never knew one who could do this so effectually as 
he. It was a gift not only of grace, but of nature as well, that 
gave him such command. No offense was given, but, contrari- 
wise, all were pleased and thankful. To a merely worldly mind, 
indeed, he would offer few attractions in the line of simple 
pleasure ; but even to such his conversation had the attraction 
of a superior order of intellect, a wide and discriminating 
knowledge of the world and of literature, and a goodness and 
purity which none could gainsay. Alas ! my heart is sad that I 
could not longer and oftener have profited by his society, and 
that I cannot again hear that gentle, loving, personal inquiry 
after the welfare of my own soul. 

It is not easy t# decide, in a character possessing so many 
claims upon the heart and the intellect, in what particular he 
excelled ; but, without disparagement to any other quality or 
function, I think it must be awarded him that his distinguish- 
ing glory was hrthe pulpit It was his divine call as a preacher 
of the cross which absorbed all the lesser distinctions of eccle- 
siastical office and social position, and made him forget all 
other honors, ay, even the mfirmities of a shattered constitu- 
tion. It was to this point that the full capabilities of his great 
soul converged. Here, to use a military phrase, he massed the 
forces of his vigorous intellect, and summoned the resources of 
his knowledge, his logic, his tact at debate, and his admirable 
power of delivery. It was here that it might be said of him 
truly, " The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up." " He was 
clad with zeal as with a cloak." His manner was always dig- 
nified, gentle, and suasive, and the marked characteristics of 
his style were those of simplicity, terseness, and a classic purity 
of language. His use of words was never redundant, remark- 
ably Saxon in their selection, and always within the ready 
comprehension of his hearers. His purity of language shows 
that he had made that subject a special study in earlier life, 
and his training at the bar, previous to his conversion, gave 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



529 



liira great precision of style as well as of argument. The dignity 
of his position as an embassador of Christ was never compro- 
mitted for a moment, nor the ends of his preaching lost sight 
of. His words flowed easily, and without care; his gestures 
were simple, dictated by the sentiments and emotions of the 
speaker; his voice smooth, agreeable, round, and deep; his 
articulation distinct, his enunciation full, and his delivery 
without labor. At ease himself, he no sooner began to speak 
than his audience already felt the earnest of his inspiring 
theme. 

I shall never, in time or eternity, forget his sermon at our 
Genesee Conference in 1847. It is true, it was a subject pecul- 
iarly suited to his genius ; it is true, also, that an uncommon 
power of the Holy Ghost rested upon him ; but it was still, as 
to the human part of it, the product of his own mind, within 
the compass of his own capabilities. If it showed what the 
Holy Ghost can do with our dilapidated humanity, it showed 
also to what heights the soul may rise, what reach and compass 
it may take in, when inspired by the Holy Spirit, without once 
taking it out of its fallen and impaired state. It was Sabbath 
afternoon. The weather was fine, and the house was crowded 
in every part. Ministers were there, judges and lawyers were 
there, educated and professional men were there, the ignorant 
and unlettered were there; there were earnest believers and 
empty skeptics and careless sinners. The text was Isaiah xliii, 
10 ; Luke xxiv, 48 : " Ye are my witnesses," " Ye are witnesses 
of these things." The proposition he laid down was " the testi- 
mony of the pious proves the reality of Christian experience." 
He proceeded briefly to define Christian experience under the 
three particulars of " conviction, conversion, and sanctification 
by the Holy Ghost." The heads of discourse were two : I. The 
Testimony; H. The Witnesses. As to testimony, it is of two 
kinds, written and unwritten. Written testimony is also of 
two kinds: record, and not record testimony. Kecord testi- 
mony is made up of the recital of Christian experience in the 
Bible. They call it record, 1. Because it is made up under the 
inspection of the supreme Judge; 2. Because all theologians in 
Christendom (out of Babylon) refer to it as the ultimate judge 

23 



530 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



in controversies. Its details of the experience of Abraham, 
Moses, Daniel, Paul, and the beloved disciple are record testi- 
mony of Christian experience. Written testimony not of record 
is such as the biographies of Newton, Gardner, Rochester, 
Wesley, Fletcher, Payson, Mrs. Rogers, Mrs. Fletcher, Mrs. 
Ramsay, Mrs. Graham, etc. . 

Parole testimony is such as is given in our class-meetings, 
love-feasts, and by the fireside, or in the street, or wherever the 
pious talk of their own experience. 

II. The witnesses. They are, first, competent; second, credible. 
They are not incompetent, 1. For crime ; 2. For interest ; and 
3. For ignorance. They are credible, i. On account of their 
number ; 2. Their variety of clime, habit, etc. ; 3. Their har- 
mony. Differences on other points of sects, etc., lost here ; 4. 
On account of their perseverance, martyrs, etc. 

Objections. Your witnesses are ignorant. So much the 
better. They are not likely to invent or carry out an imposi- 
tion. 2. They are interested partisans. Yes, on your side, (as 
Paul, Gardner, etc.) 3. There are opposing witnesses. 4. Re- 
tracting witnesses. Yes, but they are perjured. 5. Your wit- 
nesses are not sworn ; but they testify in death. 

Improvement. 1. They must testify. Christians must, min- 
isters especially. Acts 1,8: " Ye shall receive power," that is, 
to be witnesses. Acts v, 32 : " We are his witnesses, and so also 
is the Holy Ghost." Luke xxiv, 48, 49 : " Ye are witnesses of 
these things. And behold, I send the promise of the Father upon 
you." In all these cases the Holy Spirit is especially promised 
in regard to our fidelity as witnesses for Christ. Remember, 
witness is sworn to tell the truth, the whole truth. 2. We 
must live holy, that our testimony may be believed ; but a holy 
life will never do in place of testimony. With the mouth con- 
fession is made unto salvation. Paul's holy life would have 
done nothing for Christ if he had not testified about conversion. 
Stephen's happy death would not have been traced to his 
religion but that he testified, " I see heaven opened," etc. 

Such is a transcript of the sketch which lay before him as he 
spoke. His subject was introduced and laid out before the 
mind with wonderful brevity and the most transparent clear- 



CONCLUDING MEMOEIALS. 



531 



ness. Every point was so well made and so legitimate, that the 
common judgment and conscience indorsed it; and the per- 
petual analogy of the laws of testimony in civil courts so per- 
fectly sustained, that the auditor was driven to the alternative 
of setting aside all laws of evidence on which the whole system 
of criminal jurisprudence rests, or admitting the reality of 
Christian experience as sustained by the witnesses of Jesus. 
Nay, the superiority lay immeasurably on the side of Chris- 
tianity in all the circumstances which could give credibility 
and weight to testimony. There was no hiding-place left for 
the skeptic. He must confess the divine verity of the Christian 
religion or stand exposed, unmasked before the world, as an 
enemy of reason, law, and humanity, no less than of Christ and 
his doctrine. The triumph of the cross was complete, the 
hypocrisy of infidelity appeared no less so. There was such a 
"demonstration of the Spirit" in this "manifestation of the 
truth," such a "power from on high" resting upon speaker 
and hearer, that while all saw with reason's eye deeper than 
ever before, they were lifted up in holy triumph and thanks- 
giving to God, "who had given such power unto men" to 
unfold his truth. When speaking of " retracting testimony," 
he first admitted fully that there was a mass of testimony of 
that kind to be disposed of. There had been men, many men, 
who had been Christians, who had for a longer or shorter 
time been conversant with Christ's doctrine, professed conver- 
sion, sanctification even, and had witnessed to it all, and after- 
ward had retracted, and pronounced the whole an imposture. 
The testimony of such men must be disposed of in a legal way, 
it cannot be ignored. After thus preparing the mind for a 
serious grappling with what already appeared a troublesome 
objection, and all were excited to know how it should be met, 
he suddenly paused, drew himself up in full attitude, his eyes 
flashing with new luster, and elevating his voice to a tone of 
challenge, exclaimed, " But what is retractive testimony ? Re- 
tractive testimony is perjured testimony, and these are your 
witnesses, not ours ;" accompanying the words with a repellant 
gesture, as if he would cast back these apostates from truth to 
the infidel with all their odious crime of perjury. The effect 



532 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLLNE. 



was instantaneous and universal, the triumph was complete. 
Every eye saw it. New shame to the enemies of the cross, and 
new joy to the believer. Some shouted aloud, others laughed 
outright for joy, and many, very many, wept. The impression 
was solemn, though exultant. It was a little moment before 
the composure of the audience could be regained. I never 
witnessed so sudden and irrepressible an effect, as if a full 
electric battery had been at once discharged, and every auditor 
was in electric communication; nor have I ever witnessed to 
the same extent effects produced upon the conscience and sen- 
sibilities, causing joy and thanksgiving with conviction, through 
an appeal made almost purely to the higher reason. I fear I 
may seem to be writing a eulogy, while to those who heard 
him I know I shall be censured for having presumed to speak 
of what cannofrbe adequately described. He was our beloved 
Apollos, and we loved him not for the brilliant quality of his 
talents, but for the meek spirit of Jesus, in which all was laid 
on the altar of the cross, and " counted as dross for the excel- 
lency of the knowledge of Christ the Lord." "Wherever he 
went men "took knowledge of him that he had been with 
Jesus." His influence on our Churches and on the ministry 
was positive and clearly traceable. The hearts of all who were 
" expecting to be made perfect in love in this life," and who 
"were groaning after it," were encouraged, and their hands 
strengthened, and the Churches were awakened, to deeper 
piety. The utter failure of his health, followed by his resig- 
nation of the episcopal office, which his extreme modesty 
preferred to being a superannuated bishop, were events over 
which thousands mourned, and accepted only as parts of the 
inscrutable providence of God. But his work, if short, has 
been glorious, and his public life will never be forgotten in 
the Church. 

Canandaigtja, N. Y., November 28, 1865. 

BY EEV. THOMAS M. EDDY, D.D.* 

Bishop Hamline filled a conspicuous place in the Methodist 
public for many years, and was justly noted as one of its men 

* Editor Northwestern Christian Advocate. 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



533 



of power. In him there was a rare blending of the logical 
with the descriptive forces, enabling him at once to reason and 
to persuade. There was classic beauty in his illustrations, and 
New Testament simplicity in his style. He marched into great 
doctrines and over the field of controversy with a tread of a 
conquering giant. He was not fluttered, not excited, though 
intensely earnest. He impressed the hearer as a man with a 
consciousness of immense reserved strength. There was power 
unused. His logic was to error as the touch of Ithuriel's spear, 
and compelled it to assume its own shape despite all artful 
disguises. His denunciations of sin were terrible and his ap- 
peals moving. Those that heard his sermon on " Ye are my 
witnesses, saith the Lord!" will confirm each of the above 
statements. When a boy, the writer heard him preach a ser- 
mon never to be forgotten. It was one night in 1836, at the 
" Old Brick " in Cincinnati, the text, " If any man sin, we have 
an advocate with the Father, Christ Jesus the righteous." He 
presented the difficulties in the sinner's case : the law, the evi- 
dence, and his own conscience all against him ; nay, he never 
asks for an advocate until the plea of guilty has been made. 
The Court is one of inflexible purity, and cannot be moved by 
sophistry or sentiment, nor purchased by bribery. Then he de- 
scribed the advocate and his management of the hopeless case. 
How he won, by his resistless pleading, pardon and the reversal 
attainder with a patent to nobility and divine heirship ! Such 
are the recollections brought of that sermon twenty-nine 
years ago. 

Among our manuscripts we find the notes of a sermon preached 
by him before a western Conference. The audience gathered in 
a grove. He had been unusually feeble during the session, and 
some feared for his Sabbath sermon ; but it was soon seen that 
he was master of the subject and the audience. We append 
the notes : 

The text was, Matthew v, 8: "Blessed are the pure in 
heart, for they shall see God." I. What is purity of 
heart ? Purity denotes an unmixed state, gold without alloy. 
This is not predicable of mere conversion. The power of sin 
is broken ; its dominion destroyed ; but the roots of bitterness 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



wmtti Hence the apostle prays for converted brethren. * The 
God :f pei if sanctify 70a whillyv It implies, 1st. Beperdarjx 
a* ..: . : - :•: ~e will see otLrse'ives sinful, and abhor our- 
selves in dust and ashes : "will see the purity of the lav ad 
confess cms ikH; bet there will be no uprising against the di- 
ne law and adnwtniiaa 2d, Faith unmixed vitk unbelief. 
Unbelief no: raere y lei is to sir, is sin _£*r *?. 3d. Lone irith- 
ovt malice *r itbh-iTimhh 1 s. These alloys are so base they cor- 
rca : ail ahey touch ; lore must be strpreme and all eomprehen- 
si~r. ith. 3f&ine& i ~ ;*» Temptation will assail : tut 

the soul must ant yield The wind of the cloud may move the 
surface : but the depth must be calm. 5th. Cimrity frithovt 
adjUAnest. Selnshness is Herri iar_r lestroys peace, withers all 
that is r_:cle it stays larcst's triumphs; only perfect charity 
car. cast it : aa <3-ive this and no draft upon the Church will 
~:a iisa:a:rci . it —ill :r_ly ash. what is iacy ; 6th. Spirituality 

would check all Tain show, heart-wandering, etc. 7th, It u not 
a &xte of perfect hmamwiy. Grace does not give a new intel- 
lect nor render reason and judgment infallible. The empire of 
grace is laiialy ca the reac : a :c —11 cci afecclcca tea. The---:- 
f&re it mil mat be exterior ptrfedmrn. Education, early prejudice, 
association, congenial influences will prevent. A soldiers arm 
is shattered : it is cured so far as the pain and peril are con- 
cerned : but it is =4iftw*l for fife ; he is cured and not cured, 
lea. Z\-z i c ft-j>: :/ i~~ pr>:T6**i :~ L . It is, indeed, essen- 
tial to progress. 

EL Is this state att atx able ? 1st. There mre wrrmt iifiod- 
tlei : (a) Our native depravity. Our nature tends to sin ; this 
is a simple fact, one that wfuiJ* us daily. The whole naave 
is -er~ car gane ±:ra cricrral righteousness. ~ Omr fearful 
fmm% Are derils more guilty ? Wait until they have been re- 
deemed by the incarnation and agony of Jesus, and have tram- 
ple i ca his ":1c: i e:e 7: a sc. 7 s: . ~ai: axtil they have beea 
called by a ministry of mercy and rejected it: wait until God 
himself beseeches them to be reconciled and they refuse, before 
you say so. in The ex&eduig IroadK&a of tke lax. Thou 
dbut lore the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and soul, and 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



535 



mind, and strength, (d) Our settled habits of evil. Habits 
mightier than nature have been forming for years ; can they be 
destroyed? (e) Adverse associations. (1) The settled opposi- 
tion of a majority of orthodox Churches, opposition proclaimed 
from pulpit and press. (2) Among its Mends, how few con- 
sistently live it ; some may be fanatical, others mystical. Few 
seem to know how to direct the honest inquirer. (3) A power- 
ful and vigilant adversary, the enemy of all righteousness. 2d, 
Yet I proclaim to you this day it is attainable ! see my offsets ! 
(a) To guilt, the atonement sufficient to meet all sin, original 
and actual, (b) To depravity, evil habits, and adverse associa- 
tions, the might of the Holy Spirit whose work is to perfect the 
new creation, (c) To the broadness of the law, the broadness 
of the promises, given that we may be partakers of the divine 
nature. The law says, 4 Thou shalt love ; ' the promise says, 
1 1 will circumcise thy heart that thou mayest love.' The mak- 
er of the law is the giver of the promise, (d) To the adversary 
we oppose the Captain of our salvation. He was manifested to 
destroy the works of the devil ; he came to save his people 
from their sins. 

IH. The blessedness op this state : They shall see God. 
Be filled with God's fullness ; see him in all things ; see him 

PACE TO PACE. 

Such is the outline of the sermon of that occasion. It was 
grand as he preached it, and clothed with authority. We have 
heard him often ; some of his sermons we surely never heard 
surpassed. 

We had a charming visit with him a year or two ago. His 
hair and beard were silvery white, and his appearance truly 
venerable. Our conversation was of the past, and especially of 
some revivals in which he was so greatly blessed. He was very 
happy in spirit. In former days we had fancied at times there 
was somewhat of asceticism ; but there was none. We have 
spoken of him as a preacher. We considered him when in 
health the peer of the ablest pulpit men of the Church. When 
editor of the Repository he labored a great deal in revivals, 
sometimes preaching thirty or forty sermons a month. He has 
lived in silence for several years, waiting for his change and the 



536 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



hour when he should no longer " groan, being burdened ; " and 
lo, it has come ! 

" Lo ! the prisoner is released! 
Lightened of his fleshly load." 

BY THE REV. B. F. CRARY, D.D.* 

We would have said more editorially of our departed 
friend had we been at home when news came of his death. 
Dr. Elliott has given an excellent paper on his life and closing 
hours ; but we wish to say a word for ourselves. 

When we were elected President of the Hamline University, 
we understood that the bishop had given twenty-five thousand 
dollars to the institution. About half of that had been paid, 
and we could not find the least testimony that the bishop owed 
the University anything. His note had been lost, and there 
was no legal obligation upon him. We knew not what to do, 
but finally concluded to see him and get him to renew his note 
to the institution. We shall never forget our visit to him. It 
gave us an inside view of his character, of the nobility, piety, 
and kindness of his nature. He received us with great cordial- 
ity, and expressed the utmost satisfaction in renewing his obli- 
gation for thirteen thousand dollars, and his ardent desire to 
perpetuate the institution. We found him accessible on every 
point of Church interests, and exceedingly interesting in con- 
versation. Our visit was a season of spiritual profit, and we 
rejoice that God had permitted us to be there. We left him 
with a deep impression of his greatness and goodness, and 
since have been occasionally favored with a word of encour- 
agement from his own pen, and from his esteemed and stricken 
wife. Our hope is that we shall meet him in heaven. The 
most fitting monument his friends could raise to his memory 
would be to endow the institution that bears his name. We 
hope the president, Rev. J. Brooks, will inaugurate some plan 
by which all who esteem the memory of Bishop Hamline may 
contribute a glorious monument to his name in the triumph- 
ant establishment of Hamline University on an endowment 

* Editor of the Central Christian Advocate. 



CONCLUDING MEMOKIALS. 



537 



that will place it beyond contingency. "We will very gladly 
assist in any way to this result. It would be infinitely better 
than any mere useless pile of stone, and would meet the ap- 
probation of him whom we propose to honor. 

One hundred thousand dollars ought to be raised for this 
work. There are ten men in Minnesota who could do it ; but 
we propose that some plan should be adopted that will in- 
clude all who loved our deceased friend. We hope that 
something of this kind may be done, that the beneficence of 
our holy religion may be exemplified, and a noble name appro- 
priately honored. 

BY REV. WILLIAM REDDY. 

From the day I first saw Bishop Hamline my heart was 
drawn to him, his spirit was so sweet and heavenly, and his 
" conversation was emphatically in heaven." His first visit to 
our conference as our president had a wonderful effect upon us 
as a body, in restraining all asperity in debate, all lightness in 
conduct, and in infusing such a cheerful solemnity in all our 
deliberations and intercourse as we had never seen; and his 
preaching may in truth be said to have been " with power." 
An impulse was given to the doctrine and experience of holi- 
ness that has never been paralleled in our Conference history 
so far as I know. " Many of the priests were obedient to the 
faith " in respect to this Methodistic peculiarity. 

I must say that I never saw that declaration of the Discipline, 
to wit, that at our conferences " we are to do everything as in 
the immediate presence of God " so fully illustrated as in his 
administration both in the conference and cabinet. 

The bishop and myself were guests together at one of our 
conferences held at Binghamton, at which Bishop Morris 
presided, and he being at liberty, I had an excellent oppor- 
tunity to observe his spirit and conversation in the family and 
at the table. 

Such a charm was thrown around the whole social relations 
and intercourse of that household, as won all hearts. The head 
of the family and some of the children were not Christians, 
and yet all were held in solution by the grace that flowed from 

23* 



538 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



his lips. St. Paul said, "They glorified God in me." Thus 
was it with the bishop. 

My estimate of his character was heightened by his noble act 
in that, when he could no longer perform the functions of his 
office, he promptly and persistently, against the remonstrances 
of his episcopal colleagues, and the expressed wish of the 
General Conference that he should continue his relation, 
resigned the episcopal dignity. 

No man on the episcopal bench was more honored in the 
office, and personally, no one of the honored men of that board 
would have been spared with more regret ; but I voted for the 
acceptance of his resignation because, as I understood it, it was 
out of deference to a principle — deemed vital by him — a prin- 
ciple of our Church polity, to wit, that our bishops are not a 
distinct order of the ministry, but simply an office in an order, 
constituted for the greater convenience of administration. 
This is the theory of our government, a principle to the ad- 
vocacy of which in the General Conference of 1844 the bishop 
in part owed his election. Consistency, therefore, and the 
sacredness of the principle, impelled him to resign, thus fur- 
nishing the first, and, thus far, the only practical illustration of 
this feature of our Church polity as against alleged prelatical 
tendencies and assumptions. 

Cazbnovia, July 25, 1865. 

HIS MISSIONARY INTEREST. 

His heart was ever alive to the mission work in every field, 
but he deemed the German Missions in our own land of the 
utmost importance, not only to that nation, but to our own, 
and he regarded the conversion of Rev. Dr. Nast as one of 
those great providential provisions which, like the raising up 
of Luther and Wesley, was brought to pass just to meet the 
necessity of the times. To this great and good man, as he was 
accustomed to call him, and his mission work, Mr. H.'s soul 
was peculiarly knit, and with his tongue, pen, and purse he 
was ever ready to aid to the utmost of his ability. To this Dr. 
ISTast bears the following testimony in a sermon delivered 
before the Pittsburgh Conference in 1855 : 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



539 



" Our statesmen call the Germans the best part of our emi- 
grants, and if the Church succeeds in converting them, it will 
cost the devil as much trouble to make them backslide, as it 
did the Lord and his people to convert them. The honest 
Dutchman, when he is tempted to go back to the beggarly 
elements of the world, tells the devil once for all, Ts been 
there once, I goes there no more.' 

" One of the chief ministers of the Lord Jesus, the Rev. L. L. 
Hamline, to whose ardent and eloquent appeals the German 
Missions owe an everlasting debt of gratitude, said once, 
* There is strength in German character which must eventually 
give it influence. Their mental aptitudes, their habits of 
secular diligence and carefulness, should enlist concern as well 
as admiration. Doubtless hereafter they will bear much sway 
in constituting the authorities which are to control this land, in 
moulding the nation's mind, and in fashioning its morals, and 
in making up the sum total of its weal or its woe. Let them 
become a leaven of malice, and, unless saved by Omnipotence, 
the Church and the nation are undone. Let them become a 
leaven of holiness, then liberty and science and heaven-born 
religion may concert their holy and everlasting jubilee.' " 

Dr. N. continues : " So you see the Germans are worth being 
saved, not only for their sakes, but for your own sakes. There 
are already three millions of European Germans in your midst, 
and you may be assured that the influx of German emigrants 
will not cease for many years to come, but, on the contrary, it 
will become still larger, and self-preservation makes it the duty 
of the American patriot and Christian to leave no means untried 
for the salvation of the German people. 

" Our beloved Hamline says upon this point : ' Self-preserva- 
tion, which is the first law of nature, as well as charity, bind us 
to save our denizens, and such as will soon be fellow-citizens. 
If crude and contaminating elements are perpetually mixing 
with the proper constituents of the Church and State, and 
borrow no refinement or purity from the intimate contact, they 
will gradually impart their natures to the bodies civil and 
ecclesiastical, and it is perilous on our part to suffer such a 
process. What will follow in due time ? The very fountains 



540 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLINE. 



which refreshed the distant regions of Africa and Oregon will 
themselves become dry, or, if they flow at all, will send forth 
to the nations not healing but poisonous waters.' " 

Dr. N. says: "But fear not, my American brethren; such 
a catastrophe will never happen. No, glory be to God ! You 
have commenced to throw the pure Gospel leaven into your 
foreign population, and it has already commenced to work, and 
it will work till it leavens the whole lump." 

He proceeds to specify what the German Mission work had 
already accomplished in the United States, in which Bishop H. 
exulted till his death. 

BY REV. WILLIAM NA8T, D. D. 

I feel greatly honored in contributing my mite to the biography 
of Bishop H. In priv ate and in public I have often tried to express 
my gratitude for what, under God, we Germans — I personally, 
and the whole German work — owe to that great man of God. 
Bishop Hamline, in the darkest days of my penitential struggle, 
when I was on the point to give it up, presented the Gospel 
to me with the power of a new charm, and inspired me again 
with hope ; but, alas ! my memory and command of language 
are too poor to give again his words. During the first two years 
of my ministry, when I labored as a missionary in Cincinnati 
I had the privilege of being every day in his company, and 
from him I learned, more than from any other source, how to 
attack successfully the skepticism of my countrymen. He was 
my pattern in preaching and in writing. I have been repeat- 
edly asked to write a memoir of those years in which Bishop 
Hamline would take a prominent place ; but I have not been 
able to find the time, nor do I possess the ability. His late 
experience in the higher Christian life shed its beneficent rays 
upon my path too, and I strove to follow him as he followed 
Christ, but I am sorry to say I have not made the progress I 
ought to have made. 

As to the mission of our Church among the Germans, which 
God has orowned with such glorious results, I am confident it 
would never have been taken hold of in earnest had it not been 
for the soul-stirring and convincing appeals of Bishop Hamline 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



541 



to the Church. It was his eloquent advocacy to which the 
" Apologist " chiefly owes its existence ; but he not only induced 
others to give, but, with his well known liberality, he contrib- 
uted out of his own ample means for the support of the 
German Mission work, and the building of a number of 
German churches. 

No part of the Church was more deeply afflicted than the 
German ministry when Bishop Hamline felt compelled, on 
account of his physical debility and suffering, to resign his 
episcopal office. The Germans felt as though they had lost a 
father indeed. O how deeply engraven are his episcopal 
addresses on the hearts of the older German preachers ! 

I feel a deep regret that it was not my privilege to visit the 
bishop during the last few years. O how I longed to converse 
with him on the present condition of the German work, and to 
thank him for all the good he had done us ! 



We will close this chapter of precious memories with some 
brief reminiscences from the hand of a friend, at whose house 
he spent some of the happy weeks of his life when resting from 
his episcopal labors, and who was favored with his company 
during the eventful session of the General Conference of 1844 : 

" The evening previous to his ordination to the episcopacy, as 
I was passing his room, he heard the footfall, and, stepping out 
of his door, in accents tremulous with fervor said about thus : 
' O, Sister P., pray ! pray that I ever may be a man of clean hands 
and a pure heart. The Lord grant that I may never lay an un- 
holy hand on the head of a minister to set him apart for a holy 
work.' I was present at the time of his ordination. Who that 
witnessed it can forget the affecting solemnity of that scene, as 
he stood weeping, surrounded by his peers, to take upon him- 
self the highest trust that it was within the power of the Church 
to confer. 

" Subsequently I was at the session of one of his large con- 
ferences during his opening address. He told the ministers 
that were anticipating new scenes of labor, that they might all 
make their own appointments. Then, by way of illustration, 



542 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIXE. 



added, 'That the appointing power, to whom their interests 
were intrusted, intended to pray, and trust for the answer from 
the Head of the Church, that they might be under divine guid- 
ance, and if each minister would unite in presenting the prayer 
of faith, every one would, as the result, make his own ap- 
23 ointment.' 

" One morning ere it was scarcely day, as he sat at the break- 
fast table, preparatory to an early departure for one of his dis- 
tant conferences, he seemed remarkably filled with the Spirit. 
And who could at any time look upon his heaven-illumined 
countenance, without thinking of the image of the heavenly ? 
But on this occasion the outbeamings of the indwelling Holy 
Spirit seemed so peculiar, and his conversation so hallowing, 
that I shall never forget the hour. With the exception of the 
pious servant who had prepared the repast we were alone. 

" Had Closes explained the wherefore of that glory-beaming 
countenance, making it needful that he should vail himself 
from the gaze of the multitude, with what interest would the 
listeners have awaited the recital. Similar, I imagine, were my 
feelings as the bishop said about thus : ' Before I received the 
blessing of entire sanctification, it seemed more difficult to ap- 
prehend the sanctincation of the body than the sanctification of 
the soul ; but when the great work of the Spirit was accom- 
plished, a hand of power was laid upon me which seemed to 
leave such a divine impress on my body, that it has ever since 
been quite as easy, if not more so, to apprehend the sanctinca- 
tion of the body than of the soul and spirit.' Is not this the 
wherefore of the calm, heavenly dignity that characterized his 
looks, words, and acts ? 

;, For his social religious qualities he was eminent. Praise 
and prayer were his element. He was sitting amid a group of 
endeared Christian friends when, prayer being proposed, the 
bishop thus touchingly illustrated the power of united prayer. 
He brought before our mind's eye a family group of loving, 
confiding children. One of them mentions an object of great 
desire, and says, 1 1 do wish father would give it me.' Another 
says, 4 TThy not ask him ? ' It is then decided that the peti- 
tioner shall go to father with the request, when one and an- 



CONCLUDING MEMORIALS. 



543 



other, and yet another, of the loving group says, ' I will go with 
you.' They join hands, and approach the indulgent father, 
when the petitioner says, ' Dear father, will you not do thus and 
so for me ? ' Scarcely is the request made when another child 
says, ' Do, father ! ' and then another, with increasing impor- 
tunity, adds weight to the petition by the exclamation, ' Do, 
father ! ' while yet another draws more strongly on that father's 
heart, saying, 4 Do, do, father ! ' Where is the father that could 
resist a request thus presented ? 

" After a separation of nearly seven years we again saw him 
for the last time at his distant home in Iowa. But how 
changed ! Not in spirit, for there was the same hallowed and 
hallowing charm that had ever marked his Christian life ; but 
the finger of time and ever-busy disease had greatly altered his 
appearance. One might judge that a score of years had inter- 
vened since we last gazed upon him. His flowing beard and 
snowy hair had given him a most venerable appearance, re- 
minding us of what we have imagined the ancient Bishop 
Polycarp might have been. 

" Though he had been so long totally debarred from minis- 
tering in the sanctuary, often during our few days' sojourn with 
him, were we reminded of the zeal and humility of the Prince of 
Life, who, under the blue canopy of the beautiful heavens, 
preached a sermon to one lone woman. The bishop's house 
stood a short distance from the road, amid pleasant surround- 
ings of trees, flowers, and shrubs. Under a large tree near the 
gate, fronting the house, we often saw the bishop stand dis- 
coursing most lovingly to single passers-by about their souls' 
interest. Said he smilingly to us as he pointed to the large 
tree, ' Under that tree is my pulpit now.' If the sermon 
preached by the Prince of preachers to the lone woman of 
Samaria was made the occasion of evangelizing her nation, who 
can conceive the amount of good eternity may bring to light, as 
the result of those little sermons preached by our beloved 
bishop under that beautiful tree in front of his dwelling ! 

" Said he to us : ' You cannot talk too much about perfect 
love. Were I able I would preach about it as never before, ani 
if not able to preach about it in the pulpit, I will talk about it ; 



5U 



LIFE OF BISHOP HAMLIKE, 



and if not able to talk, -will whisper about it long as life endures 
and for ever.' Well, the holy to the holiest leads, and now 
faith beholds him with the seraphim around the throne, and 
the spirits of the just made perfect, redeemed from earth, crying, 
' Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts ! ' Surely an abundant 
entrance has been ministered to him into the everlasting king- 
dom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How many whom 
he loved and ministered to on earth must he have found await- 
ing, as he entered through the gates into the city ! and who can 
imagine his bliss, when introduced into the unvailed presence of 
his adorable Saviour, whom he had so long loved with such 
unquenchable, soul-consuming ardors ! 

" I saw a chariot rolling through the sky ; 
For whom it came I asked, and lingered nigh : 

I thought I heard a whisper say, 

A saint is going to heaven to-day ; 
While shining ones were waiting all around, 
And hailed the chariot as it reached the ground. 

" Soon one appeared the convoy smiled to see, 
"Who just had put on immortality. 

Thev said. 1 Street spirit, come away;' 

Quick they ascend the heavenly way, 
As shouts of triumph wafted far and near, 
And songs of victory floated on the air. 

11 1 saw the pearly gates thrown open wide : 

The heavenly Bridegroom said, ' Come in, my bride.* 

The angels higher strains did swell 

To welcome him they loved so well ; 
A crown so bright it made my vision dim . 
Glittering with brilliant stars, was given to him. 

"My eyes so dazzled with the glorious sight, 
I saw not where his mantle did alight ; 

But sure I thought some favored one 

Must have it. since his work is done. 
I could but weep, and ' my father ! ' cried, 
Would that I could, like thee, life's ills outride," 



THE EXD. 



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Illustrated. 

Lady Huntingdon Portrayed : 

Including Brief Sketches of some of her Friends and Co- 
laborers. By the Author of "The Missionary Teacher,* 
'* Sketches of Mission Life," etc. 

Leaves that never Fade ; 

Or, Records of Divine Teaching and Help. 
24mo. 



BOOK CONCEEN PUBLICATIONS, 

200 Mulberry-street, IVew York. 



Quotations from the Poets. 

Moral and Religious Quotations from the Poets. Compiled 
by Eev. William Eioe, A.M. Large octavo, with a frontis- 
piece. 
Sheep 

Half calf, marbled edges, with two plates. 
Koyal octavo ed., tinted paper, nine steel plates, mor., gilt 
Do. do. do. extra gilt 

A volume rich in its gathered sweetness from the wide field o! 
English literature. We recognize here many familiar passages, some 
old bits of poetry, and gems from the later minstrels who have mada 
melody in our own noble mother tongue. — N. Y. Evangelist. 

We have seen many dictionaries of quotations, but this surpasses 
them all in extent and system. — N~. Y. Observer. 

It is the first book of the kind that has appeared for many years 
and is of rare excellence. It meets a longfelt w r ant. — Boston Recorder 

A unique and valuable gift-booh appropriate to all seasons. — Spring- 
field Republican. 

He must be a dainty epicure who will not find abundant gratifica- 
tion for his intellectual palate in this copious and well-ordered feast 
of fat things. — Ziorfs Herald. 

The most complete and well-arranged work of the kind in the 
Englibh language. — The World. 



New History of Methodism. 

The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth 
Century, called Methodism, considered in its different De- 
nominational Forms, and its Relations to British and Amer • 
ican Protestantism. By Abel Stevens, LL. D. Three 
Volumes. From the Origin of Methodism to its Hundreth 
Anniversary. 
12mo. 

8vo. Hlustrated, 



Hibbard on the Psalms. 

The Psalms Chronologically Arranged, with Historical Intro- 
ductions, and a General Introduction to the whole Book. 
By F. G. Hibbaed. 
8vo. Half calf 



Whedon's Commentary. 

A Commentary on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. In- 
tended for Popular Use. By D. D. Whedon, D.D. 
12mo. Muslin 



BOOK CONCEKN PUBLICATIONS. 

200 Mulberry-street, New York. 



Life and Times of Asbury. 

The Pioneer Bishop ; or, the Life and Times of Francis As- 
bury. By W. P. Strickland. With an Introduction by 
Nathan Bangs, D.D. 
12mo. Half calf 

Full calf, gilt 
Morocco 

Harmony of the Gospels. 

Harmony and Exposition of the Gospels. By James Strong, 
S.T.D. Beautifully illustrated by Maps and Engravings. 
8vo. Sheep 

Clarke's Commentary. 

Imperial 8 vo. , 6 vols. Turkey mor. , full gilt, and antique 

Hymns. 

A variety of sizes and styles of binding. 

Hymns and Tunes. 

Morocco antique 

Biographical Sketches. 

8vo. Imitation morocco 
This splendid book contains sketches of Wesley, M'Kendree, 
Emory, Roberts, Hedding, Fletcher, Garrettson, Fisk, Pickering. 
Levings, Olin, and Bunting, and a sketch of the Old New England 
Conference, and is most superbly illustrated. 

The True Woman. 

By J. T. Peck, D.D. 

12mo. Muslin, gilt 
Morocco 

Friendships of the Bible. 

12mo. Muslin 
Silk 

Here are beautifully displayed the most touching incidents of human 
friendship that are found in the Bodk of books. 

Ministering Children: 

A Story showing how even a Child may be as a Ministering 
Angel of Love to the Poor and Sorrowful. 
Hlustrated. Muslin 
Do. Gilt edges 
Do. Morocco and full calf 



BOOKS PUBLISHED BY OAELTON & POETER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New York. 

Eudiments of Public Speaking and Debate. 

Or, Hints on the Application of Logic. By J. G. Holyoake, 
author of " Mathematics no Mystery," "Logic of Facts," etc. 
With an Essay on Sacred Eloquence hy Henky Rogebs. 
Revised, with Notes, by Rev. L. D. Bakkows. 

12mo. 

" Speech is the body, thought the soul, and suitable action the lips of eloquence." 
He has oratory who ravishes his hearers, while ho forgets himself. — Lavattr. 
Eloquence is vehement simplicity. — Cecil, 

The object of this book is to assist public speakers in perfecting themselves in 
the art of speaking effectively. Too many exhaust themselves on the matter of 
their discourse, and utterly fail in the manner of it. The tendency of this book is to 
correct this error, aDd secure a better and more impressive style. Please read the 
following notices of it: 

"We cordially commend Dr. Barrows's volume to all ministers, young and old. 
and in fact to public speakers of all classes. It is full of marrow and fatness.— 
Western Advocate. 

A close study of it will save the young public speaker from many blunders 
which, if uncorrected, will impair his usefulness and hinder his success.— Northern 
Advocate. 

Our preachers will do well to send for it A clergyman of great intellectual 
power, though being favored with little success, when asked how much of a sermon 
was due to the manner in which it was delivered, answered, "Three fourths." — 
Christian Advocate and Journal. 

There is nothing dry or dull in the entire book. It is full of most valuable sug 
gestions, so presented as to be remembered. — Congregational Herald. 

Here is a work of rare excellence. "We have no hesitation in saying that it should 
be the text-book of the nation upon the subject of public speaking.— Philadelphia 
Daily News. 

Moral and Religious Quotations from the 
Poets. 

Topically Arranged. Comprising choice Selections from eix 
hundred Authors. Compiled by Rev. William Rioe, A.M. 

8vo. Sheep 
Half calf 

Superfine, illustrated, tinted paper, morocco, gilt 
Morocco, antique 

"Ws h»ve seen many dictionaries of quotations, but this surpasses them all in extent 
and system. The subjects are those that come before the preacher's mind, and he 
will open this book as he is preparing a sermon, and find happy lines to adorn and 
enrich his discourse, and astonish his hearers by his familiarity with the poets I It 
will also lead him to the study of poetry, and introduce him to authors whose ac- 
quaintance he would never have cultivated, but for these brief and sententious ex- 
tracts from their works. More than four thousand quotations are here made. — Ntu 
fork Observer. 



PUBLISHED BY CARLTON & PORTER, 
200 Mulberry-street, New York. 



Compendium of Methodism. 

A Compendium of Methodism : embracing the History and Pres- 
ent Condition of its various Branches in all Countries ; "with a 
Defense of its Poctrinal, Governmental, and Prudential Pecu- 
liarities. By Rev. James Porter, D.D. Revised edition. 

12mo., pp. 501. 

This work has received universal favor. The facts that our bishops have put 
it in the course of study for preachers, and that it has been translated int.-' 
the German and Scandinavian languages, commend it to the confidence of all 
Methodists. It« peculiar advantages are, L That it gives a connected history of 
Methodism from the beginning in all countries, and in all its denominations. 

2. That it shows our doctrinal agreements and disagreements with other sects. 

3. That it exhibits the different systems of church government in the world, and 
the relative merits of each. 4. That it explains and defends all our prudential 
means of grace and other peculiarities as no other book does. It is a whole 
libbaby in one volume, and is a Zafcor-saving as well as a money-saying pro- 
duction. Its importance to preachers and others is indicated by the following 
testimonials : 

It is, in fact, a digest of Methodism. The arrangement and execution of the 
several parts are admirable. The style is a model of perspicuity, ease, and vigor; 
and in point of condensation, the volume is literally crowded with important 
matter. We have hardly seen as great compactness without confusion, or an 
equal number of pages from which so few could be eliminated without detriment. 
But what is far more important than the mode of composition is the spirit which 
pervades the work. The author writes with that candid discrimination so essen- 
tial to the proper discussion of the topics which he handles.— Ed. of Xorth. Adv. 

This work is a valuable acquisition to our Church literature. It embodies 
much important information, arranged in a natural and convenient form, and 
affords a good general outline of Methodism. It is a work of much merit. I do 
cheerfully commend it, as a whole, to the favorable consideration of our friends 
and th j public generally. — T. Morbis, Bishop of M. E. Ctiurch. 

I lik3 the book much. It will do good. Our people and friends ought to read 
and study it thoroughly. It furnishes a satisfactory answer to the petty objec- 
tions urged against the Methodists by a set of ecclesiastical croakers with which 
we are everywhere beset. One gentleman, whom I let have a copy, after reading 
it carefully, remarked, "It is the book needed ; I would not take twenty dollars 
for my copy if I could not obtain another." — Rev. Justix Spauxdixg. 

I have just finished the reading of this book, and I wish to express my decided 
Approbation of it. It should he a family hook, a Sunday-school book, and I would 
add especially, a text-book for all candidates for the ministry. — J. T. Peck, D.D. 

The work throughout is not a criticism on Methodist usages, but a statement 
and defense of them. As such, we trust it will meet with the wide circulation it 
deserves, both in and out of the Church. — Methodist Quarterly Eevitw. 

We have examined the book, and most cordially recommend our friends, one 
and all, to procure it immediately. No Methodist can study it without profit, 
and gratitude to the great Head of the Church for the wisdom imparted to those 
who have been the instruments employed in constructing the rules and reguia- 
ticns under which the operations of this most successful branch of the Church 
are conducted. — Editor of the Christian Guardian, Toronto. 

It is precisely the volume needed to instruct our people in the peculiarities of 
our system. The special character of Methodism is here developed in such a 
manner as to show that it is specially excellent, and worthy of special zeal and 
tpecial sacrifices. It is very systematically arranged, and therefore convenient 
for reference on any given point. To the Methodist, especially the " official " 
Methodist, this book is fitted to be a complete manual ; and to all others who 
would understand what Methodism precisely is, as a whole, or in any specific 
respect, we commend Dr. Porter's work as an ACKXo'WLEDGEn authoeitt.— 
*. Stevens, LL.D. 



BOOKS PUBLISHED BY OAELTON & PORTER, 

300 Mulberry-street, New York. 

The Christian Maiden. 

Memorials of Eliza Hessel. By Joshua Peiestley. Slightly 
abridged from the second London edition. 

With a Portrait and Vignette. 12mo. 

Much of the religious biography of the day Is both commonplace and insipid. 
Tliere are, however, many choice exceptions, and among such we class the interesting 
memoir before ns. Miss Hessel was a young lady who cultivated her mind to the 
atmost, and diifused a cheering influence in the circle in which she moved. Her 
biography is replete with illustrations of her deep Christian experience, and varied 
and extensive reading. We cordially commend this little book to Christian young 
women, as well calculated to improve the understanding and purify the heart.— 
Christian Guardian. 



The Pioneer Bishop; 

Or, the Life and Times of Francis Asbtjey. By W. P. Strick- 
land, D.D. 

12mo. 

One of the most fascinating volumes of biography ever issued from our press.— 
Quarterly Review. 

This is at once a charming volume and a marvelous record. — New York Com 
mercial Advertiser. 

This book will be read, and will exert a beneficial influence wherever read. 
— ZioTis Herald. 

The author has performed his duty well, and with a catholicity of spirit worthy of 
honor. — New York Intelligencer. 

No one can have a just view of the rise and settlement of the Methodist Epis- 
copal Chu~«ih in the United States without carefully perusing this book. — Br. Durbin. 

"We arc glad to find the history of the father of American Methodism from the pen 
of one so competent and fitted for the task. — Northern Advocate. 



Early Methodism 

Within the Bonnds of the Old Genesee Conference, from 1788 to 
1828 ; or, the first Forty Years of Wesleyan Evangelism in 
Northern Pennsylvania, Central and Western New York, and 
Canada ; contcdning Sketches of Interesting Localities, Excit- 
ing Scenes, and Prominent Actors. By Geoege Peck, D.D. 

12mo. 

Many valuable lessons are to be learned from the study of those heroic mew who 
followed the sound of the woodman's ax with the "joyful sound" of salvation. 
Their faith, self-denial, undaunted courage, and glorious success will never cease to 
nil forth our sincerest admiration, and may still, we trust, stimulate their successors 
to deeds of no*)le daring.— Christian Guardian. 

It is a well- wrought production, and while important information is communicated 
to the reader, he js attracted forward from page to page, and chapter to chapter, bj 
pleasant sketches, stirring scenes, and conspicuous actors. — Religious Herald. 



BOOKS PUBLISHED BY OABLTON & POETER, 

200 Mulberry-street, New York. 

Elements of Logic. 

Adapted to the Capacity of younger Students, and designed for 
Academies and the Higher Classes of Common Schools. Re- 
vised edition. By Rev. C. K. Tbtje, D.D. 

We are glad to see that this excellent hand-book is being introduced into many 
schools and seminaries. If our friends connected with school committees through 
Hie country wil take a little pains they may introduce it into thousands of schools 
with advantage to all concerned. 

"We believe that, with a treatise as simple as Dr. True's, all college students might 
understand logic, and the higher classes of our academies and grammar schools be 
emboldened to study it ; while the study of the treatises in ordinary use is now almost 
wholly confined to colleges, and the understanding of them to a small percentage 
of each class. We give the book, therefore, our cordial commendation. It is short 
and simple, not because it is shallow and superficial, but because the author has the 
mastery of his science, knows how it ought to be taught, perceives the utility of its 
study to all persons of intelligence and culture, and has adapted his presentation of it 
to this so desirable end.— North American Review. 

This is a thorough popular treatise on the Elements of Logic, the best undoubt 
edly in the market for schools and colleges. Those who have not had the advant- 
ages of schools would do well to give It a thorough study. — Ziori's Herald. 

Clergyman's Pocket Diary and Visiting Book. 

Arranged by James Poetee, D.D. 

Here we have an admirable memorandum book, the want of which has been felt, 
we venture to say, very generally by our ministerial brethren. It contains the fol 
lowing departments : Funerals attended, sermons preached, alphabetical list of mem- 
bers, alphabetical list of probationers, alphabetical list of friends not members, record 
of baptisms, record of marriages, subscribers for periodicals, cash accounts, general 
accounts, general memorandum, etc. — Canada Christian Advocate. 

Parkerism : 

Three Discourses delivered on the occasion of the Death of 
Theodoee Paekee. By W. F. Waeeen, Fales H. Newhali., 
and Gtlbeet Haven. 

12mo. 

The discourses before us are worthy of being preserved In a permanent form. 
They were elicited in consequence of the death of a man who had acquired a world- 
wide reputation. In this volume we have truthful delineations, clear conceptions, 
and weighty arguments, and throughout there is a remarkable exemplification of Mr. 
Parker's own words, namely, "I am no flatterer nor public liar general; when such 
• one is wanted he is easily found, and may be had cheap ; and I cannot treat great 
men like great babies. So, when I preached on Mr. Adams, who had done the cause 
of freedom such great service, on General Taylor and Mr. Webster, I aimed to paint 
Biem exactly as they were, that their virtues might teach us and their vices wara." 
—Canada Christian Advocate. 

82 5 w 



